[Perioperative therapy--possibilities for rationalization].

Abstract

The complexity of daily clinical work requires a sophisticated collaboration between surgery and anesthesiology, since both departments are interwoven in a unique way. This can be accomplished by a rational approach to the following topics: clear appointment of areas of competence respecting the principle of mutual trust, integration of anesthesiologists in the basic physical examination and proposal of case-oriented preoperative diagnostics, agreement on necessary preoperative therapy, common consultational meetings for outpatient surgery, recovery room availability, instruction of surgical personnel in specific pain therapy, availability of co-workers who are competent and willing to cooperate, no one-sided renunciation of clinical knowledge, ability or execution, no renunication of organizational or structural decision-making and no monopoly on perioperative medicine.