The focus of this volume is the "state of the art" of Intensive and Critical Care Medicine as well as new insights into basic science, clinical research and therapeutic interventions. Structured in four parts, the volume opens with few chapters devoted to the beginning and development of the WSICCM, to procedures standardization, recommendations and quality of care improvement, with particular reference to the definition of clinical governance, professionalism and ethics. In the second part, the authors describe the practical clinical approach to critical illness; among the topics dealt...