Oxygen Transport in the Critically Ill Patient Münster (FRG), 11–12 May, 1990

Lacking the capacity to store oxygen, the human organism depends on having an unimpaired and continuous supply of oxygen for its survival. Life-threatening disturbances can be encountered by the clinician at any step in the oxygen cascade from ambient air to tissue metabolism. It is therefore necessary for the mechanisms of oxygen uptake, transport, distribution and diffusion into tissues as well as the unaffected cellular metabolism to be well understood and monitored. An international symposium focusing on these issues was held in Münster, FRG, May 11-12, 1990. This book contains the lectures held at the symposium, and thus provides an excellent basis for further discussion.

List of Contents.- Oxygen Uptake.- The Influence of Breathing Pattern and Fi02.- Ventilation/Perfusion — Distribution and Diffusion Limitations.- Drugs and Pulmonary Perfusion.- The Effects of Anemia.- Ventilatory Support and Oxygen Uptake.- Influence of Artificial Ventilation and PEEP on Pulmonary Gas Exchange and Oxygen Uptake.- Extracorporeal Support of Gas Exchange.- Non — Conventional Ventilation.- Oxygen Transport — Pathophysiology.- Ventricular Pump Function and Failure.- Control of Cardiac Output — Response of the Organism.- Tissue Adaptation to Hypoxia.- Hemoglobin and Artificial Blood.- Clinical Aspects of Oxygen Transport.- Multiple Systems Organ Failure.- Clinical Aspects of Oxygen Transport and Tissue Oxygenation in Sepsis.- Pharmacological Intervention ofthe Failing Heart.- Mechanical Support of the Failing Heart.- Oxygen Distribution.- Distribution of Blood Flow in the Critically Ill Patient.- Pharmacological Limitations of Oxygen Transport.- Oxygen Transport Measured by Tissue Perfusion in High — Risk Surgical Patients.- Determinants and Control Parameters of Oxygen Supply and Oxygen Consumption.- Therapeutic Intervention.- Catecholamines and Pulmonary Perfusion.- Pharmacological Intervention to Optimize Oxygen Transport.- Influence of Nutrition on Respiratory System.- Monitoring of Oxygenation.- New Techniques of Monitoring Arterial Oxygen Availability.- Venous and Mixed-Venous Saturation.- Measurement of Oxygen Uptake and Consumption.