[Typical and avoidable doctor's errors in surgical gastroenterology]

Everyone makes mistakes, and even the greatest efforts may fail to eliminate them completely. In contrast, typical errors and miscalculations--which by the very fact of being typical are predictable--can and must be avoided. The reasons for such mistakes may be lack of experience, inadequate interdisciplinary cooperation, and ignorance of the current state of the art. This applies equally, and in particular, to the field of surgical gastroenterology. Intensive interdisciplinary discussions, a healthy surgical hierarchy, a knowledge of pertinent guidelines and the latest literature and, last, but not least--against the present background of discussions about working hour and diagnosis-related groups--a rested and motivated physician, are the pillars of error-free patient management.