As it has been from the beginning, the goal of this textbook is to be a well balanced, authoritative, and fully documented book that integrates the basic scientific principles with the practice of respiratory medicine for clinicians, trainees, students and educators. To accomplish this in a rapidly changing field, we have undertaken significant changes for the fifth edition. Chapters have been created to cover new topics, other chapters have been split into two to cover topics more thoroughly, and still other chapters have been merged to improve presentation of similar material. Key points distilled from each subject are now highlighted at the end of each chapter. Color photographs and illustrations have been incorporated into the chapters wherever possible. The locations of numerous instructional videos, which can be accessed at the textbook’s website, are indicated by icons in the printed textbook. An active and regularly updated internet site is an integral part of the textbook, expanding, revising and supporting information from the printed pages.

We are mindful that we are trying to meet the educational needs of an increasingly global and sophisticated readership. There are 26 newly written chapters. These include chapters on genetics, asthma, particle deposition and clearance, innate immunity, lung injury and repair, pulmonary pathology, bronchoscopy (diagnostic and therapeutic), ultrasonography, pulmonary function testing, clinical exercise testing, respiratory impairment and disability, ventilator-associated pneumonia, lymphoma, occupational asthma, bioterrorism, nontuberculous mycobacterial disease, pulmonary vasculitis, sleep disorders, neuromuscular disease, lung transplantation, metastatic lung disease and the biology of non-small cell lung cancer. As for each edition, new authors have been recruited to provide new perspectives and our continuing authors have thoroughly updated their chapters. We are indebted and deeply appreciative of the hard work and dedication of all our authors, nearly half of whom are new to the textbook. Our international contributors, who represent 15 countries, now make up 25% of authors of the fifth edition.

We believe that this textbook remains an important resource for pulmonary physicians. From the time of its first publication in 1988, it retains the spirit of a comprehensive, well-referenced text created by internationally recognized authorities. Each chapter is meant to provide both a comprehensive overview and the authors expert insights concerning the scientific-clinical foundations of the subject, on which the reader can integrate new knowledge as research progresses.

The online textbook and internet site will enhance the learning experience. Each figure in the printed edition is available from the internet site and can be readily downloaded into teaching presentations. Videos that illustrate procedures and important concepts not appreciated in static images are linked to several of the chapters. Pertinent review questions for each chapter can serve as a self-teaching module. Teaching cases prepared regularly by Dr. Michael Gotway present and explain important radiographic features of pulmonary disease. Literature updates that comment on recent articles should be of interest to the readership and, in addition, at the end of each chapter, links will direct the reader to recent articles and reviews. We aim to keep our online readers engaged and current and to give them reasons to visit the electronic textbook often.

We would like to thank our publisher Elsevier Inc. for their support and suggestions for improvement. We are very pleased with the layout of the book and the improved artwork. The publishing staff and copyeditors deserve special thanks and acknowledgment for their important contributions, particularly Dolores Meloni and Ann Ruzycka Anderson. Copyediting and print layout was skillfully performed by Berta Steiner and her staff at Bermedica Production, Ltd. We greatly appreciate the countless hours of work of authors, publishers, artists and copyeditors to bring this textbook to life. We encourage our readers to contribute also by providing feedback and suggestions for ongoing improvement.

© 2010  Elsevier Inc. Tous droits réservés.

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