This is the first comprehensive study guide covering all aspects of pediatric critical care medicine. It fills a void that exists in learning resources currently available to pediatric critical care practitioners. The major textbooks are excellent references, but do not allow concise reading on specific topics and are not intended to act as both text and study guide. There are also several handbooks available, but these are usually written for general pediatric residents and lack the advanced physiology and pathophysiology required for the higher level pediatric critical care practitioner. This study guide will bridge the gap between the current levels of books in press. It will be physiologically based covering major pediatric critical care principles and specific disease entities commonly encountered by the pediatric critical care practitioner. Pathophysiologic aspects unique to the pediatric patient will be emphasized. Chapters will contain margin notes stressing important key points to the reader and study questions based on the chapter focus will conclude each chapter. The outline of each chapter will be dependent on the section of text as outlines below. The condensed format of coverage is unique, involving heavily-illustrated text with self-assessment material to support learning objectives. The text is supported by case studies, tables and illustrations which describes the important theories and procedures on the pediatric critical care unit. This is useful for both pediatricians with patients either scheduled to enter the critical care unit or be discharged, pediatric critical care physicians and those in training and general critical care physicians who may see pediatric patients in their unit.

Steven E. Lucking is Professor of Pediatrics and Chief of the Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine at the Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital in Hershey, PA. He has special interests in brain injury, shock, bronchoscopy, outcomes evaluation and research.Frank A. Maffei is Professor of Pediatrics at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. He is the Chair of Pediatrics and Division Chief of Pediatric Critical Care at Geisingers Janet Weis Children's Hospital in Danville, PA. His special interests include life-threatening asthma, hemodynamic monitoring, shock, traumatic brain injury and child abuse.Robert F. Tamburro is Professor of Pediatrics at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. He is an Intensivist in the Division of Pediatric Critical Care and the Division Chief of Pediatric Palliative Care at Geisingers Janet Weis Children's Hospital in Danville, PA. He has special interests in oncologic critical care, clinical research, care of the medically complex child and pediatric palliative care. Arno L. Zaritsky is Professor of Pediatrics at Eastern Virginia Medical School. He was the Senior Vice President for Clinical Services at Childrens Hospital of The Kings Daughters in Norfolk, VA. He has special interests in resuscitation, sepsis, patient safety and quality improvement.