Practical Approach to Pediatric Intensive Care. Editor: Praveen Khilnani, Jaypee Brothers, Medical Publishers (P) Ltd Delhi, First Edition 2004 Pages 802, Price Rs.995/-

Practice of pediatric intensive care is no more restricted to major teaching institutions and corporate hospitals in the country but is percolated down to smaller pediatric hospitals engaged in private practice. While many excellent western textbooks on critical care exist, they do not address issues peculiar to Indian setting. This book edited by Praveen Khilnani, who has combined his experiences abroad and in our country, now fulfills these lacunae.

The book presents practical approach to diagnosis and management of various conditions met with in intensive care units. Special emphasis is laid on recognizing critical illness and saving life with on the spot stabilization with oxygen and fluids prior to transfer to intensive care unit for fine tuning of therapy based on proper diagnosis. Besides discussion on basic problems related to specific organ involvement, it provides an ideal mix of current concepts and advances in the field of pediatric intensive care. Subjects of topical interest are well covered that include poisons, environmental injuries, newer antibiotics and infections such as cerebral malaria and pediatric AIDS.

Consensus statement on guidelines for existing and new intensive care units, admission and discharge criteria, practical points in use of monitors and other equipment are special features of this book. Quality control and ethical issues, end of life care and nursing issues and infection control are dealt with appropriately.

Keeping in mind the growth of this subspecialty, book includes separate chapter on intensive care training, biostatistics and research. It also addresses issues related to resident trainees such as patient orders and information to be presented on rounds. Drug index with dosages and important side effects makes the book complete.

Experienced national and international pediatric intensivists of repute have contributed to the book and brought forth their expertise for the benefit of Indian pediatricians and the critically ill children. I strongly recommend this book to every pediatrician irrespective of individual specialty as life of a critically sick child can be saved only if primary attending pediatrician does his job right and leaves the rest to pediatric intensivist.

Y. K. Amdekar,
Prof of Pediatrics (Retd),
Grant Medical College,
J J Group of Hospitals,
Mumbai, India.