[Organization of a microsurgical emergency service]

Microsurgery will in the future play a definite role in the treatment of hand injuries not only for nerves but also for small vessels. With this in mind, it is shown how in a comparatively small team a microsurgical service for emergencies can be organized. Essential is the possibility to learn and train on small animals in a microsurgical laboratory. It is advocated to have a laboratory technician in charge of the laboratory who is specially trained in microsurgery and acts as a permanently available teacher. It is shown how continuity of the team capacity can be improved. This is done by combining the experience of a hand surgeon, who for one reason or another has only limited skill in microsurgery, with younger members who are well-trained in this field. Occasionally the laboratory technician may be incorporated, which is acceptable because he only performs vessel anastomoses.