CONFEDERATION OF AUSTRALIAN CRITICAL CARE NURSES JOURNAL

HAEMODYNAMIC MONITORINGINVASIVE AND NONlNVASIVE CLINICAL APPROACH

DAROVIC, GLORIA OBLOUK. (1987). PHILADELPHIA: SAUNDERS

This very practical approach to invasive and noninvasive haemodynamicmonitoring has been written and illustrated by bedside clinical nurses forbedside clinical nurses.

The text begins by discussing the limitations of using isolated monitoring andlaboratory "numbers", and impresses on the reader the importance of evaluatingmeasurements within the context of the total patient picture. The caregiver ischarged with the responsibility of looking after both the physiological andpsychological needs of the patient.

The emphasis is on the individuality of the patient and how they respond toillness and therapy; and the importance of integrating all available informationinto the care of that patient.

The content includes pertinent aspects of cardiovascular and pulmonaryphysiology, physical assessment pointers, specific disorders and theirpathophysiologic and haemodynamic effects as well as pharmacologic influenceson haemodynamics.

Individual chapters are devoted to arterial pressure monitoring, CVP monitoringand pulmonary artery pressure monitoring, as well as cardiac output and mixedvenous oxygen saturation monitoring. Two further chapters are devoted tomonitoring the patient with cardiovascular disease and the patient withpulmonary disease. Issues which are often forgotten, such as "Sepsis frominvasive haemodynamic monitoring: pathogenesis and prevention" are dealtwith in some depth.

This book is easy to read and has many very clear illustrations and tables. Itwould be a good reference for any critical care unit and especially helpful as aresource for the preparation of teaching sessions.

ISBN: 0-7216-1064-1

COST: $52.95

LORRAINE FERGUSONSenicrEducator Critical Care CoursesNSW College of Nursing

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