Care of the critically ill patient is truly multisystem management of highly complex patients who typically have numerous acute physiological derangements superimposed upon underlying medical ailments. Historically, the majority of patients admitted to intensive care units (particularly medical ICUs) have respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation, often along with other acute and chronic pulmonary problems. Much ICU-related research and education has similarly focused on pulmonary issues such as the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), pneumonia, and mechanical ventilation
