This book reviews the most recent developments in the patho-
physiology and therapy of ventilatory failure. It contains
contributions by twenty-five internationally recognized aut-
horities on respiratory muscle function and investigators
actively contributing to our knowledge of the cause, diagno-
sis and therapy of ventilatory failure. Of particular inter-
estare the descriptions of new modalities of partial and
complete ventilatory assistance as well as new knowledge re-
garding ventilatory control and fatigue during stressful
breathing. The reader will find here a state-of-the-art re-
view of the latest research and practical applications in
this most critical area of intensive care medicine.