The ICU Book - Paul Marino

• Title: ICU Book
• Edition Description: Third Edition 
• Authors: Marino, Paul L.                 
• Dr. Kenneth Sutin contributed to the final 13 chapters of this edition
• Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
• Pub. Date: October 2006
• Copyright ©2007 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

The preface to the 3rd edition states “ This edition continues the original intent to provide a generic textbook that presents fundamental concepts and patient care practices that can be used in any intensive care unit, regardless of the specialty focus of the unit. Highly specialized areas, such as obstetrical emergencies, thermal injury, and neurocritical care, are left to more qualified authors and their specialty textbooks. The ICU Book has been unique in that it reflects the voice of one author. This edition welcomes the voice of another, Dr. Kenneth Sutin, who added his expertise to the final 13 chapters of the book.”

The preface to the first edition states “ The purpose of The ICU Book is to present this common ground in critical care and to focus on the fundamental principles of critical illness rather than the specific interests for each intensive care unit. This text is problem-oriented rather than disease-oriented, and each problem is presented through the eyes of the ICU physician.”

Review:

I have loved this book for its smoothness, liquidity and easy readability. The free flowing language makes it more gripping. It not only provides a general overview and basic information, but also provides enough detailed and specific information to address almost all questions and problems that arise in the ICU. It is a perfect blend of basic fundamentals and applied physiology with the fully updated, problem-based approach. The author clearly, logically and concisely explains all the fundamental principles of intensive care medicine at the physiologic level.

WIth new chapters in this 3rd edition, like hyperthermia and hypothermia syndromes; infection control in the ICU; and severe airflow obstruction, this book is actually ‘A Complete Book’. This book however does not cover trauma and neuro.

‘The ICU book’ is a perfect way to obtain a fairly broad fund of ICU knowledge without having to stop every other paragraph to analyze and digest the words used to express an idea. I find it very useful for residents and ICU fellows, and certainly for new starters. Practitioners at all levels will find something interesting in this book. It is extremely approachable, and the material is presented in a brief and quick-access format which allows for topic and exam review.

If you want to understand ICU, get this book!