For many years, there has been a great deal of work done on chronic congestive heart failure while acute heart failure has been considered a difficult to handle and hopeless syndrome. However, in recent years acute heart failure has become a growing area of study. There has been considerable amounts of new data reported and many new concepts have been proposed in the last 3-4 years looking at the epidemiology, diagnostic and treatment of acute heart failure.

This issue will take a look at modern critical care techniques in a historical context. Topics include: -Shock and Organ failure-, -Battlefield trauma, traumatic shock and consequences: War-related advances in critical care-, -Lessons from Modern Disasters and Wars: Bhopal, Chernobyl, Oklahoma City Bombing, 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, Tsunami, Iraq-, -Plagues with Critical Care Implications: Legionairres, Staph toxic shock, SARS, Hantavirus, Group A strep nec toxic shock, Marburg and hemorrhagic fevers, Avian flu- and more