Widely regarded as the ‘bible’ for intensive care medicine specialists, the 9^th edition of Oh’s Intensive Care Manual was recently published with the expert contributions of several Wesley specialists.

Originally written in the 1970s by Professor Teik Oh, the manual has become the trusted resource for intensive care trainees and experienced clinicians alike.

Over the decades, the textbook has been regularly revised to reflect advances in critical care medicine, and this latest edition is no exception.

What makes this edition particularly noteworthy is the involvement of both former Wesley Director of Intensive Care, Professor Bala Venkatesh, and current ICU Director, Associate Professor Jeremy Cohen, as editors.

This is Dr Venkatesh’s first edition as editor and Dr Cohen’s first as associate editor.

The editorial process which spanned more than 18 months also saw contributions from several Wesley specialists who submitted chapters on their areas of expertise.

Wesley clinicians involved include Dr Paul Bartley (Infectious Diseases), Dr Mahesh Ramanan (Intensive Care), Dr Denzil Gill (Intensive Care), Dr Scott Borgna (Oral and Maxillofacial) and Dr Jason Pincus (Anaesthetics).

From St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital – also part of the UnitingCare network of hospitals – Dr James Winearls added his expertise in intensive care.

The new edition presents a significant revision of the chapters and structure of the book, including new chapters on COVID and pandemic preparedness, clinical examination, acute aortic injuries, and a rearranged structure to emphasise sepsis and septic shock.

These updates also ensure the manual remains aligned with exam syllabuses and continues to serve as an invaluable tool for trainees.

More recently, the textbook publishing adopted a joint editing process with intensivists from Australia and the United Kingdom collaborating on the project.

Dr Venkatesh said the broadened editorial board, which also includes from the UK Dr Jonathan M Handy, Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine and Anaesthesia, and Dr Daniel Martin, Professor of Perioperative and Intensive Care Medicine, has added depth to the robust peer review process.

“The depth and rigour of this edition are exceptional. We’ve worked hard to make sure it meets the needs of clinicians globally, from resource-rich settings to those with limited resources,” Dr Venkatesh said.

The manual’s global perspective includes guidance on managing conditions like sepsis in resource-limited environments, while also addressing region-specific topics such as Indigenous health and snake bites which are more relevant to Australian readers.

“It’s about providing practical, evidence-based advice that clinicians can rely on, whether they’re dealing with common ICU scenarios or rare but critical conditions,” Dr Jeremy Cohen said.

For clinicians, the manual offers more than quick answers. It provides context and expert appraisal.

“A Google search might give you a paper or two, but a chapter in this manual gives you a comprehensive, peer-reviewed overview from specialists who’ve recently reviewed the latest literature,” Dr Cohen said.

“The manual can also be useful for scenarios that clinicians may see less frequently. For example, at The Wesley an obstetric emergency is a less common scenario that we manage. Another example is burns for clinicians who don’t work in major burns units.

“The text provides guidance from specialists who are dealing with these scenarios on a more regular basis,” he explains.

With its combination of print and online formats, the text is a quick and easy reference point for even the most experienced clinicians, as well as allied health professionals, pharmacists and others.

“We hope this edition will be a useful resource for clinicians at all stages, but particularly those who are trainees preparing for exams,” Dr Venkatesh said.

“This is a big deal for Australian intensive care and to have so many Wesley and UnitingCare specialists contributing to such an iconic text is something we’re incredibly proud of.”

Pictured: Dr Mahesh Ramanan, Dr Jeremy Cohen and Dr Paul Bartley present the 9^th edition of Oh’s Intensive Care Manual at The Wesley’s Intensive Care Unit.