[Simulation in surgery]

In order to achieve a qualitatively high-grade standard of operations and follow-up monitoring of operations as well as a trouble-free communication in interprofessional teams and an overall high level of safety in the treatment of patients, simulation techniques are increasingly being implemented even in surgery. This article gives an overview of these aspects. Attention should be paid to the fact that simulation should always only be a part of a didactic concept that must be strictly flanked by learning targets and control of the learning targets and also by definition can only approximate to the real situation.