Pharmacology for Anaesthesia and Intensive Care

by Tom Peck, Benjamin Harris

Overview

The fifth edition of this popular textbook continues to provide a solid foundation of pharmacological knowledge for all those working in anaesthesia and intensive care. The content has been thoroughly revised to include expanded chapters with clearer figures, ensuring readers are kept abreast of the ever-changing landscape of clinical pharmacology. Conveniently divided into four sections covering the basic principles of pharmacology, core drugs in anaesthetic practice, cardiovascular drugs, and other important drugs and complemented by new diagrams, tables and chemical formulae to facilitate learning. All four chapters on core drugs in anaesthetic practice have been updated along with others exploring applied pharmacokinetic models, antimicrobials, and drugs used in diabetes. An ideal aid to study and practice for junior and trainee anaesthetists and intensive care specialists preparing for exams. Also an invaluable resource for theatre practitioners, ICU nurses and physicians working in areas that demand a solid knowledge of pharmacology.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781108656825
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	03/18/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Sales rank:	1,000,533
File size:	16 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Thomas Peck is a Consultant Anaesthetist at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester and is also an Honorary Consultant Anaesthetist at University Hospital Southampton.
Benjamin Harris is a Consultant in Anaesthetics and Intensive Care Medicine at the North Hampshire Hospital in Basingstoke.

Table of Contents

Preface: Foreword by Anthony Absalom; Section I. Basic Principles: 1. Drug passage across the cell membrane; 2. Absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion; 3. Drug action; 4. Drug interaction; 5. Isomerism; 6. Pharmacokinetic modelling; 7. Applied pharmacokinetic models; 8. medicinal chemistry; Section II. Core Drugs in Anaesthetic Practice: 9. General anaesthetic agents; 10. Analgesics; 11. Local anaesthetics; 12. Muscle relaxants and reversal agents; Section III. Cardiovascular Drugs: 13. Sympathomimetics; 14. Adrenoceptor antagonists; 15. Anti-arrhythmics; 16. Vasodilators; 17. Antihypertensives; Section IV. Other Important Drugs: 18. Central nervous system; 19. Antiemetics and related drugs; 20. Drugs acting on the gut; 21. Intravenous fluids, minerals and nutrition; 22. Diuretics; 23. Antimicrobials; 24. Drugs affecting coagulation; 25. Drugs used in diabetes; 26. Corticosteroids and other hormone preparations; Index.

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Robert R. Gaiser, MD (Yale School of Medicine)
Description: This book covers the basic principles of pharmacology through pharmacological principles and descriptions of core drugs used in anesthesia and intensive care. The key to this description is the term "basic," as the book explains important pharmacology for the practice of anesthesiology using basic and easily understandable concepts. The approach is superb in that explanations of previous concepts are used in the understanding of more advanced concepts. This edition has been updated to include newer anticoagulants and antibiotics. It is a welcome update of the fourth edition published in 2015.
Purpose: The purpose is to explain the pharmacological basis of anesthesia and intensive care. The first eight chapters focus on basic principles. Despite this section covering just 80 pages, it is extremely comprehensive and easy to understand. The strength of this section (and the other sections) is the use of figures to describe the principles. The medicinal chemistry chapter deserves highlighting because of its thorough and comprehensible breakdown of various medications based upon their chemical structure. Readers with a solid understanding of pharmacology will appreciate the approach. The other chapters focus on the various drugs used clinically. The brevity and clarity render the concepts easy to remember.
Audience: The book is clearly intended for learners in anesthesiology who are preparing for their certification examinations. With its simple, concise approach, the goal is accomplished as all who read the book will improve their understanding and knowledge of pharmacology. Yet, experienced practitioners will also find the book interesting as it provides a scientific basis for the use of the medications in practice. The book addresses other clinical questions such as the use of cephalosporins in patients with a penicillin allergy, presenting a common-sense approach based upon the science. The authors are true experts.
Features: The most important aspect of this book is the use of simple diagrams that enhance learning and understanding of the material. The pharmacological principles do not apply only to anesthesiology and help explain the impact of medication on the fetus. The book also describes the impact of pregnancy, age, or illness on the pharmacology of the various medications. The chapters on medicinal chemistry and antimicrobials are superb. The concepts are simple and easy to understand and yet important in the management of patients. The index is comprehensive, rendering the book a valuable resource. The depth of coverage is adequate for those preparing for examinations as well as for those who want to improve their understanding of the pharmacological basis of medications used in the operating room and intensive care unit.
Assessment: This outstanding book differentiates itself from others through its effective use of figures and diagrams that enhance learning. It is comprehensive and provides sufficient detail for the use of these medications. The information is not so overwhelming as to render it forgotten after reading. The inclusion of new anticoagulants and their reversal and the update on antibiotics make this new edition necessary.

Doody's Review Service

‘This outstanding book differentiates itself from others through its effective use of figures and diagrams that enhance learning. It is comprehensive and provides sufficient detail for the use of these medications. The information is not so overwhelming as to render it forgotten after reading. The inclusion of new anticoagulants and their reversal and the update on antibiotics make this new edition necessary.’ Robert R. Gaiser, Doody's Notes

‘… an invaluable resource for anyone, both doctor or nurse/ODP working in anaesthesia and intensive care. Its well-written explanations on the topics offer easy to understand insight which will only benefit the reader and lead to a greater depth of knowledge.’ Daniel Morgan, The Journal of Perioperative Practice

'A pleasant surprise for the reader will be how easily these subsections flow as the authors keep the more detailed and in-depth information accessible and interesting by associating the concepts to relevant drugs … This book is useful for trainees preparing for examinations and for experienced practitioners as a shelf reference; it is well organised so that specific topics or drugs can be individually reviewed.' Daniel Pulsipher, British Journal of Anaesthesia

From the Publisher