The pathophysiology of sepsis can be regarded as a series of steps, beginning with the invasion of normally sterile tissue by microbes and the elaboration of various pro-inflammatory mediators. The final common pathway is often the development of the multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Whereas a great deal has been learned during the past quarter century about the inflammatory processes associated with sepsis (and other related conditions, such as ischemia/reperfusion injury), our understanding is far less developed with respect to the pathophysiological events that lead to organ dysfunction under these conditions. Nevertheless, efforts by both clinical and laboratory scientists are leading to new knowledge in this area. The chapters in this volume provide a state-of-the-art overview of many aspects of the pathophysiology of organ dysfunction in critical illness.

Contents: From the contents: Cellular responses to hypoxia: role of oxidant signal transduction. The mitochondrial permeability transition. Cytopathic hypoxia in circulatory shock. Derangements in cellular oxygen metabolism. Pharmacologic and metabolic mitochondrial rescue. Role of leukocytes in sepsis and lung injury. Dysregulated neutrophil apoptosis in the pathogenesis of organ injury in critical illness. Does apoptosis play a role in the development of sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction? The intercellular signaling pathways of inflammatory stress. Pro-inflammatory cytokines. Organ-organ interactions in multiple organ failure. Endothelial cell dysfunction and abnormal tissue perfusion. The microcirculation in sepsis. Pulmonary vascular dysfunction. Pulmonary epithelial injury. Ischemia-induced derangements in the actin cytoskeleton. Multiple organ failure and the kidney. Apoptosis in renal ischemia-reperfusion injury. Local muscularis inflammatory mechanisms of ileus.