Der Internist
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The demographic development and ongoing improvement of surgical techniques result in an increasing number of high risk elderly patients undergoing surgery. The anesthesiologist has an important role within the management of these patients, because apart from the present illness resulting in a surgical intervention the anesthesiologist has to assess and treat the pre-existing medical disorders in the perioperative period. ⋯ The adequate perioperative anesthesiological management can result in the avoidance of intensive care treatment. A very often underestimated topic is the sufficient perioperative pain treatment of these high risk elderly patients.