Main description:

The third edition of this market leading book has been thoroughly updated and expanded, with additional contributions from experts in the field, to include all new drugs available to the anaesthetist and intensive care specialist. Basic pharmacological principles, vital to understanding how individual drugs actually have their effects, are dealt with methodically and with many highly annotated diagrams and tables. With hospital infections becoming increasingly prevalent, the important section on antibiotics has been further expanded. With the third edition, this well established title continues to provide its readers with the most concise yet comprehensive coverage of all aspects of pharmacology. An ideal aid to study and practice for junior and trainee anaesthetists, critical care nurses and all physicians and healthcare professionals working in theatre, accident and emergency departments or intensive care units.

Contents:

Part 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. Mathematics and pharmacokinetics; 7. Medicinal chemistry; Part II. Core Drugs in Anaesthetic Practice: 8. General anaesthetic agents; 9. Inhaled anaesthetics; 10. Analgesics; 11. Local anaesthetics; 12. Muscle relaxants and anticholinesterases; Part III. Cardiovascular Drugs: 13. Sympathomimetics; 14. Adrenoceptor antagonists; 15. Anti-arrhythmics; 16. Vasodilators; 17. Antihypertensives; Part IV. Other Important Drugs: 18. Central nervous system; 19. Antiemetics and related drugs; 20. Drugs acting on the gut; 21. Intravenous fluids; 22. Diuretics; 23. Antimicrobials; 24. Drugs affecting coagulation; 25. Hypoglycaemic agents; 26. Corticosteroids and other hormone preparations.