[Regional anesthesia today--possibilities and limits: introduction (author's transl)].

The various procedures of regional anesthesia were widely used before the introduction of intratracheal anesthesia; thereafter, it was replaced by the today commonly used general anesthesia. Regional anesthesia nonetheless plays an important role, primarily in outpatient treatment, because a large number of surgical departments still have no anesthesiologist on the staff. Often the surgeon is responsible for both the operation and the anesthesia. Indications, risks, and complications including legal problems related to regional anesthesia are discussed.