Respiratory system and artificial ventilation are key topics when considering the main aspects of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine: assisted ventilation techniques are essential to preserve the patient s life, but just as any other treatments they can be also extremely pernicious.

Scientific research and clinical evidences are equally fundamental in investigating the best methods to provide effective support and increase positive outcomes. It is obviously desirable that this knowledge and know-how are widely shared among scientists and practitioners.

With this purpose, the book includes contributions by an international panel of authors and gathers their varied and valuable expertise up to illustrate principles, study results and case experiences on respiratory physiopathology, respiratory mechanics, respiratory functions monitoring, artificial ventilation and diagnostic radiology in respiratory dysfunction failure.

We trust it can represent a precious reference for professionals in their ongoing self-improvement process to increase skilfulness. Furthermore, we hope that this book can serve as a useful learning tool for medical students and can contribute to the education of future anaesthesiologists and intensivists."

This book offers a state-of-the-art description of the complexity of the healthy and pathological respiratory system, with particular reference to the mechanics of the airways, lung and chest wall. Detailed information is provided on new insights into the mechanics of breathing that have been obtained through technological innovations in measurement systems, cutting-edge modeling techniques and novel approaches to functional imaging of the respiratory system. It is explained how these advances permit the assessment of emerging treatment approaches, including new drugs, innovative surgical techniques and modes of mechanical ventilation and new forms of rehabilitation. In order to ensure comprehensive coverage of the subject, the editor has assembled a multidisciplinary team of authors comprising basic scientists in respiratory medicine, chest and intensive care physicians and bioengineers involved in both modeling and instrumentation. The book is intended for intensive care physicians, respirologists, physiologists, rehabilitation specialists, basic scientists in respiration, research and clinical fellows, biomedical engineers involved with respiratory mechanics and respiratory therapists. They will update their knowledge and improve their clinical expertise.