Description
Organ systems work together, not as single entities. Disease or therapy of one organ will influence one or more other organ systems. This is particularly true for the heart and lungs. This review aims to examine this relationship and how disease may affect it. The cardiac physiology of intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) is first discussed as IPPV illustrates the most dramatic examples of these interactions. Common conditions are then discussed with emphasis on implications for therapy. The majority of the references quoted are from clinical studies as these are most relevant to the practising clinician.
