[Current capabilities of telemedicine in anaesthesiology].

Because of an ageing population and a relative lack of professionals, the German health system is under great pressure. In rural regions in particular, anesthesiology is also affected - nursing staff, anesthetists, intensive care physicians, and emergency physicians often have to be supported by freelancers from other regions and from abroad - at least periodically. In addition to the increasing number of treatments, the potential quality of therapy is also increasing owing to progress in medical research. Against this background the need for resources is increasing to ensure the optimal quality of treatment. This applies to all clinical disciplines, including all sections of anesthesiology - especially in economically underdeveloped regions where highly qualified experts are lacking. In various cases it is not the physical attendance or manual skills of experts that is primarily requested on-site, but rather their medical expertise and experience. Therefore, telemedicine systems are suitable for closing these gaps very effectively and efficiently. In the various anesthesiological sub-sections the number of scientific papers published to date varies. For anesthesia and pain therapy only a few telemedical applications or concepts have been reported in the literature. However, in tele-intensive care medicine and tele-emergency medicine several national and international research projects have successfully been carried out, leading to established routine systems in some cases.