[Knee endoprosthesis: anesthesiological considerations]

The anesthetic care of patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is described based on experience with reports of the recent literature. The problems and complications of cooperation between different personnel and speciality groups treating the patient are of a more organizational nature during the preoperative phase, and are aimed primarily at determining the appropriate scheduling of the operation. At the forefront intraoperatively is the appropriate monitoring of the patient, and the adjustment of anesthetic regimes to the individual needs and requirements of the patient. The obligation for intensive monitoring as well as an appropriate pain therapy are indispensable in the postoperative phase.