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The ICU Book

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This best-selling resource provides a general overview and basic information for all adult intensive care units. The material is presented in a brief and quick-access format which allows for topic and exam review. It provides enough detailed and specific information to address most all questions and problems that arise in the ICU. Emphasis on fundamental principles in the text should prove useful for patient care outside the ICU as well. New chapters in this edition include hyperthermia and hypothermia syndromes; infection control in the ICU; and severe airflow obstruction. Sections have been reorganized and consolidated when appropriate to reinforce concepts. Purchase The ICU Book, Third Edition and visit TheICUBook.com, which gives you free access to links from references to PubMed, updated regularly; and a directory of Websites handpicked by Dr. Marino.

1065 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

471 people are currently reading
1014 people want to read

About the author

Paul L. Marino

28 books14 followers

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5 stars
406 (58%)
4 stars
204 (29%)
3 stars
60 (8%)
2 stars
15 (2%)
1 star
8 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
Profile Image for Muhammed Farrag.
127 reviews25 followers
March 2, 2020
كتاب رائع جدا .. سلس و مفيد و سهل و شامل
😔غير قابل للتطبيق فى المستشفيات بتاعتنا بوضعها الحالي
Profile Image for Thomas Müller.
53 reviews1 follower
May 20, 2013
This is the single best medical book I have ever read. If you are a doctor, no matter your specialty, you should read it.
Profile Image for Ashlee.
16 reviews1 follower
November 6, 2008
Well, basically I added this one because I have been using it and will probably continue to use it as a nurse in the Cardiovascular ICU. Unless you're a nurse or you really want to know a lot of pointless info about what's going on in an ICU environment, I don't recommend this to the layperson. However, if you are a health care professional, this book provides a lot of information and is easy to understand if you understand nursing and the ICU setting.
Profile Image for Ahmed Alohali.
156 reviews7 followers
May 24, 2015
I read the 4th edition. Introductory textbook for critical care medicine if you are interested resident or at the begging of your fellowship a lot of basic science. I like the historical link and the sayings at the start of each chapter.
Profile Image for Bethany Zakrzewski.
44 reviews1 follower
October 30, 2018
Alright I have reached a new point in my life where I am reviewing a textbook on the app that is supposed to prove to myself that I have time for leisure.
Why?
Because I read this whole thing front to back.
Very very useful and will stick with me.
Profile Image for Matthew.
17 reviews2 followers
May 3, 2011
Fantastic book. Well written, easy to read, the best ICU reference for residents on critical care I have come across.
Profile Image for Mahmoud.
1 review
October 26, 2016
it could be the most simple text in critical care medicine .. it's more like story reading without any complicated heavy points ...
Profile Image for Kate  prefers books to people.
656 reviews6 followers
March 7, 2022
In 2019, I asked my attending in the ICU what I could do to be a better nurse. He had me buy this book. We went through the material together over 2 years. This book was a game changer. It helped me go from veteran nurse working independently to a better team member. I can't stress how much new material finally clicked. I also became a better preceptor because I had better tools for explaining my thought process. I pull this book out every few months. I will never loan my copy out so don't ask. The notes in the margins of my book are worth more than your firstborn. If you're a healthcare professional of ANY kind practicing in critical care, buy this book.
Profile Image for Zachary Brown.
6 reviews
August 28, 2016
Board preparation

Re-reading this book for board preparation, a couple of things stand out. Marino is excellent at challenging dogma and supports understanding the correct reasoning for medical pathophysiology. I find the style to be very readable and succinct. However, the editor of the kindle edition (am reading on an iPad) needs to be fired. There are typos, inaccurate figures/tables, and just plain odd typesetting that is quite distracting. Hopefully this will be corrected in future editions as I cannot imagine I am the only person reading this on an iPad.
8 reviews
January 3, 2026
My nursing educator told me it was “the Bible of ICU Care” and it’s hard to fail to see why. Extremely detailed and in-depth coverage of important Critical Care concepts which has helped me better understand my patients and the interventions we are doing. It also helped me pass my board certification exam, where I used it mainly for reference for topics other textbooks lacked depth in. I’m sure I’ll still be using this book as a resource for my job for years to come - there’s just too many valuable information here to leave collecting dust on my bookshelf. GOODREAD.
Profile Image for Zachariareagle.
3 reviews
November 9, 2009
Okay I know this is pretty geeky, but it is a must read for my profession. Actually I found this book very readable. The topics are huge, but the chapter sizes are manageable. I could come home from a busy day in the ICU and read a chapter to two to learn WHY I did what I did that day. This is a book I will return to frequently during the rest of my residency and fellowship.
Profile Image for Julie.
41 reviews4 followers
March 7, 2008
Essential for any critical care enthusiast, not just surgeons but medical ICU folks, nurses, etc. Very easy-to-understand, good use of diagrams and good references at the end of each chapter.
15 reviews1 follower
March 5, 2008
Yes, I am a dork and thought it would be cool to post a medical book here.
Author 3 books1 follower
March 9, 2010
This is an excellent book. People going to the hospital should carry one of these even if they cant read it. All nurses should have a copy.
Profile Image for Todd.
103 reviews34 followers
July 24, 2011
So incredibly readable, Dan Marino has got real talent. This should be required reading for any IM resident or physician.
Profile Image for Ellen.
39 reviews
April 6, 2012
I love this book. Best nursing book I've ever owned (and I own quite a few). I consult this book regularly. Highly recommend it for any ICU nurse who always likes to ask "why?".
12 reviews
August 1, 2015
A great manual that I refer to on a regular basis.
Profile Image for Osama Ghazy.
8 reviews
February 25, 2016
Not so good
no organiziation
missed part like obstetric
Very good chapters like mechanical ventilation, electrolyte imbalanace
Profile Image for Keenan Boulnemour.
34 reviews
February 5, 2022
Excellent comprehensive review of ICU pathophysiology and treatment in a system-by-system manner. Also very readable.

The problems are that it was written long enough back that guidelines for treatment of some of the diseases has changed. Also it is comprehensive but not necessarily in depth. For example, when reading up on a very complex pancreatitis patient, I found I needed more information such as learning the step-up approach (PANTER trial, 2010) which has proven superior to necrosectomy which was the treatment listed in the book. It touched on associated complications of pancreatitis that my patient had (ARDS, ACS), but again I needed more information on each of those problems when I drove into them to understand diagnosis & treatment.
1 review
Want to read
April 2, 2022
This has been remained a standard book for ICU services to all including developing countries. One of the common problem with this book is limitation of the availability. Otherwise this book will remain a standard reference book to all of us.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Ben.
427 reviews1 follower
September 5, 2023
Took me 4 years to make it through this book; however, well-worth the time to read, digest, apply, and sometimes reread as this book has influenced my practice of medicine. Highly recommend having this reference book close at hand for all physicians dealing with adults.
1 review
February 27, 2020
ICU Little Book

Very concise excellent source of a multitude of topics in critical care. A great compliment to the full text. Highly recommend
8 reviews
December 20, 2021
Very easy and smooth start for icu physicians
But lack important informations
Profile Image for Cristen K.
71 reviews1 follower
January 25, 2022
I love this book it has become my first go to reference.
Profile Image for Gnieber.
4 reviews
March 19, 2023
builds a great foundation for physicians/trainees and nurses working in acute clinical settings whether that was medical/surgical intensive care or even emergency department.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews

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