Fluid and volume therapy are an integral part of anaesthesia and intensive care. Nevertheless, the procedures and treatment approaches behind vary considerably between individuals. Frequently, they have no scientific basis, but are mainly driven by traditional presumptions and speculations. This book tries to tread a new path by establishing a rational approach to fluid and volume handling. It combines physiology, pathophysiology, scientific facts and outcome data. However, while providing all the available information it allows the reader to make his own conclusions. Parts A and B of this book lay a thorough physiological and pathophysiological foundation. Section C presents the available outcome data on specific clinical situations such as cardiac risk patients, respiratory failure/ARDS, renal failure, intracerebral pressure, sepsis/SIRS, burns and obstetric patients. This book fills an important remaining gap between theory and practice: It shows how exciting it can be not only to understand fluid physiology, but to translate it into practice.