[The cooperation between anesthesiologists and surgeons].

With the development of anaesthesiology as an independent medical field, the anaesthesiologists were structurally brought together as an autonomous unit. They are not included in the leadership structure of the surgical institutions in which they work. Between surgeons and anaesthesiologists there is no system of super- or subordination. They participate in the operation on an equal footing. This requires regulation or responsibility in all phases of the operation and the postoperative therapy as well as an atmosphere of good team-work. In the interest of the patient, vital decisions are to be made jointly.