[Surgical errors and risks--the head and neck cancer patient]

Head and neck surgery is one of the basic principles of head and neck cancer therapy. Surgical errors and malpractice can have fatal consequences for the treated patients. This can lead into functional impairment and even have impact in future chances for disease related survival. There are many risks for head and neck surgeons which can cause errors and malpractice. To avoid surgical errors, thorough preoperative management of patients is demanded for. Such is ensuring operability, cautious evaluation of preoperative diagnostics and operative planning. Moreover knowledge of anatomical structures of the head and neck, of medical studies and data as well as qualifications in modern surgical techniques and the surgeons ability for critical self assessment are basic but important prerequisites for head and neck surgeons in order to prevent from mistakes. Moreover it is important to have profound knowledge in nutrition management of cancer patients, wound healing and to realize and be capable of dealing with complications, when they occur.Despite all preventive precaution and surgical care, mistakes cannot always be avoided. For that it is important to be able to deal with errors and to establish an appropriate and clear communication and management for such events. The manuscript comments on recognition and prevention of risks and mistakes in the preoperative, operative and postoperative phase of head and neck cancer surgery.