The discipline of critical care is aligned with the specialties of medicine, anesthesiology, and surgery, all of which involve the daily management of critically ill patients. This book will assist in the initial evaluation and treatment of the most frequently encountered problems in the ICU setting. The majority of the book will consist of approximately 138 of the most common or important critical care on-call problems. The "on-call" concept was originally developed by Tricia Gomella, MD, in her book NEONATOLOGY and has proven to be an extremely effective way in which to communicate patient management principles. Each problem includes a presenting problem, immediate questions, differential diagnosis, laboratory and other diagnostic data, and treatment plan. Additional chapters such as lab tests, procedures, fluids and electrolytes, nutritional support, blood component therapy, ventilator management, special problems in transplant patients, and commonly used medications that specifically relate to the procedures used most often in the ICU setting are also included and enhance the book's value as a single-source reference.