Intensive care in childhood is a relatively new field of medicine. Due to major differences in physiology, many disciplines are involved in the care of the critically ill child. Apart from specific disease patterns, morbidity in direct relation to the stay in the ICU or the underlying disease mainly determine long term morbidity. Today we understand that the treatment of the critically ill child can have a great impact on the quality of life in adulthood. This book covers the whole spectrum of intensive care in childhood. It is based on the experience of leading specialists from the various fields involved in the treatment of these children.