[Computer-assisted documentation in anesthesia (author's transl)].

Details are given of a Dietz microprocessor with 48 K Bytes core memory for anaesthetic documentation. The experiences gained with this equipment over a period of two years are reviewed. The storage capacity is sufficiently large to allow its use by several persons for the processing of more than 20,000 anaesthetic records per year. The preparation of the anaesthetic record takes a skilled technician about two minutes. The prompt evaluation of the data and their presentation on either screen or print-out are the main advantages of this system. Information regarding the course of anaesthesia, complications, the identity of the anaesthetist are available instantly and at any time and can be referred to if organizational problems arise. The fact that all relevant data and criteria can be called up whenever wanted also acts as a spur to make use of the information. The system still needs some improvement to make it more efficient.