[Processes in perioperative risk--from the viewpoint of the surgeon]

The perioperative risk largely depends on three factors: a) the patient with regard to his physical condition (multimorbidity) in relation to age; b) the underlying disease (benign, malignant; chronic, acute); c) the required operative treatment with respect to time (elective or emergency) extent and radicality (curative, palliative). Knowledge of general risk or of separate risk factors for a given situation resulting from critical analysis of larger collectives has to guide any individual decision. Pre- and postoperative measures with interdisciplinary participation have to improve or avoid risk factors in order to achieve better overall results.