[The status of anesthesiology in Berlin]

At present in West Berlin hospitals (whether university, state run or private) almost 450 anaesthesiologists carry out 140,000 anaesthesias of all types a year through their individual anaesthesiology institutes with their corresponding head physicians. The specialist portion with a variation between almost 0 and 100% is on average 45%. The state run anaesthesiological care is supplemented by established anaesthesiologists in private practice or group-clinics. Operative intensive care lies largely in the hands of anaesthesiologists, as does to some extent--particularly in smaller hospitals--the care of conservative intensive care patients. Intensive care and likewise anaesthesiology for serious burns is carried out in a special department at "Urban Hospital". In contrast to days gone by, increasing numbers of anaesthesiologists are now involved in emergency medicine, frequently working on prominent joint projects together with internist colleagues. A rescue helicopter authorized for West Berlin is based at University Clinic Steglitz. Pain management is practised at only a few hospitals. In the entire area under review, a substantial deficit exists in this field, a deficit which would be quickly eliminated, despite substantial administration and emotional difficulties. Not unproblematic is the insufficient number of nursing personnel. Here again deficits exist with regard to equipment and the filling of vacancies.