Critical: Stories from the front line of intensive care medicine

Journey into the world of intensive care medicine and the lives of people who have forever been changed by it.
 
‘A very special book filled with stories of survival, hope and loss.’
Adam Kay

‘[Morgan’s] wit and compassion are everywhere evident in this enlightening book, and he makes a welcome contribution to our understanding of these extraordinary times.’
Sunday Times 

There is no room for error in the ICU. Full focus is required at all times.
It can be the difference between life and death.
 
Through the remarkable stories of his patients, Dr Matt Morgan guides you through the body and its organs. He explains how various critical conditions arise, and all that goes into treating them – from the science, research and technology, to the tireless efforts of the doctors and nurses. This book gives you powerful insights about intensive care, many of which may prevent you, or those close to you, from ending up there. It will even teach you how to save a life.  
 
Movingly and compassionately, Matt writes about the cases and the people that have stayed with him, both the recoveries and the losses. This book shows the fragility of life, but also the incredible resilience of the human body and spirit.
 
Sometimes darkness can show you the light.
 

From the Publisher

Matt Morgan: A letter from ICU

To those who are elderly, frail, vulnerable, or with serious underlying health conditions,

We have not forgotten about you.

It must be so hard listening to endless news reports that end with “don’t worry, this illness mainly affects the elderly, frail, vulnerable, or those with serious underlying health conditions.” What if that is you?

Our passion as an intensive care community is fixing problems that can be fixed. Yet we often meet patients like you who have problems that cannot simply be fixed. As this virus continues to impact on the world, we will meet many more of you. Although we have fancy machines, powerful medicine, and talented staff, none of these things cure every disease. All they do is give us time – time to work out what is wrong, time to hopefully treat it, and time for people to get better. But sometimes we already know what is wrong, we already know that there is no effective treatment. And so sometimes the machines offer little, intensive care offers no fix. But hope is not lost. We have not forgotten about you.

As difficult as this is, we will be honest. We will continue to use all of the treatments that may work and may get you back to being you again. We will use oxygen, fluid into your veins, antibiotics, all of the things that may work. But we won’t use the things that won’t work. We won’t use machines that can cause harm. We won’t press on your chest should your heart stop beating. Because these things won’t work. They won’t get you back to being you.

And If these things are still not enough, we will sit with you and with your family. We will be honest, we will hold your hand, we will be there. We will change our focus from cure but most importantly we will continue to care. We have not forgotten about you.

Signed,

The Intensive Care Unit

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Schuster UK
Publication date ‏ : ‎ 30 April 2020
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1471173062
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1471173066
Item weight ‏ : ‎ 1.05 kg
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 13 x 2 x 19.8 cm