[Computerized anesthesia record. How far have we gone?]

There are more and more computerized anaesthetic records becoming available from various constructors. However, the setting up and operation of such a product depends on the development of concepts in computing. The second technological breakthrough, currently underway, is challenging principles which had seemed accepted up until now. The technical development concerns computer processing units, RAM or ROM. The development in software influences the operation of networks, multiple task and object programming. The graphic interface becomes the centre of this second revolution. All of these developments should be included in the proposed computerized anaesthetic records. Three factors determine the realisation of such a product: control of the data collecting process, the man-machine interface and the utilisation of storing data. The computerized anaesthetic record should be of open conception, allowing communication with all of the data bases and providing an interface with all the monitors and ventilators used in operating and recovery rooms. Now is the time to install the infrastructure network in operating and recovery rooms and to be thinking of acquiring the new generations of computerized anaesthetic records.