Felice Eugenio Agrò
Editor
2013
The present monograph is a useful guide to fluid management. It describes the physiological role of fluids and electrolytes in maintaining body homeostasis, underling the essential fundamentals needed for clinical practice. It is addressed mainly to practitioners and post-graduates, but is clearly accessible to graduate students and undergraduates as well. It reviews, refreshes, and intensifies the basic concepts of fluid management while also providing a new perspective on its role in daily practice. The book begins with a discussion of the core physiology of body water, specifically, the various compartments, as well as electrolytes, and acid-base balance. Subsequent chapters provide a detailed description of the main intravenous solutions currently available on the market and explain their role in the different clinical settings, presenting suggestions and guidelines but also noting the controversies concerning their use. At the end of each chapter the boxes “Key Concepts” and “Key Words” help the reader retaining the most relevant concepts of the chapter, while the box “Focus on…” suggests literature and other links that expand on the material discussed in the chapter, satisfy the reader’s curiosity, and offer novel ideas.