Critical care medicine is, in principle, very similar to general medicine,
except that everything is more intense. Patients’ parameters and disease
processes change much faster. Decisions have to be taken early and rapidly.
Adjustments in care have to be much more dynamic. There is no place for
complacency. Things have to be done by the minute and hour, rather than
by the day and week. The clinician must be ‘on the ball’ about his patient.
Hence the traditional approach of history, examination, investigations,
diagnosis and treatment is not adequate. Often one has to quickly assess
the patient, institute life saving measures, correct parameters and start
empiric treatment quickly, even before arriving at a definite diagnosis.
Knowledge, skills and attitudes are equally important.
This chapter