Providing pharmacotherapy to patients who are critically ill present unique challenges given the frequent occurrence of multiorgan dysfunction, alterations in pharmacokinetic parameters, and underlying chronic diseases frequently seen in this population. Clinical pharmacy services will likely continue to expand in this area providing a layer of security to the medication use process. Several studies have demonstrated improved care and decrease cost when pharmacist are added to the health care team.13 Guidelines and position statements also support the presence of pharmacist.4 This issue of the Journal of Pharmacy Practice (JPP) includes several manuscripts that serve to introduce and update the seasoned practitioner in key areas of critical care pharmacotherapy. In addition, students and young critical care practitioners should find this issue to be of particular interest since topics represent the "bread-and-butter" of critical care pharmacotherapy.
展开▼
