Our devision is responsible for the daily anaesthetic and intensive care of patients across more than 40 anaesthesia workstations and 24 intensive care beds. We jointly provide intensive care for an additional 32 patients in collaboration with surgeons from the Departments of General Surgery, Transplant Surgery, Plastic Surgery, and Neurosurgery.
In addition, we operate a pre-anaesthesia clinic and provide emergency physicians for two emergency response vehicles operated by the Vienna Professional Rescue Service. As of October 1, 2025, we have also assumed responsibility for the anaesthetic care of children at Saint Anna Children's Hospital.
Mission Statement of the Devision
As a central clinical department, we make a significant contribution to patient care, research, and teaching at the Medical University of Vienna. We are committed to excellence in patient-centred clinical care, translational and clinical research, innovative teaching, and education and training in anaesthesiology and intensive care medicine, including pain medicine, palliative care, and prehospital emergency medicine. Professional, respectful, and appreciative collaboration forms the foundation of everything we do.
In caring for our patients, we take medical responsibility for establishing the appropriate indications for treatment and provide the full spectrum of care within our field, ranging from curative to palliative treatment. Using state-of-the-art methods in anaesthesia and intensive care medicine, we provide evidence-based, individualised, and high-quality care while ensuring the safety, dignity, and well-being of our patients.
Our research in anaesthesia and intensive care medicine is dedicated to advancing medical knowledge and improving patient care, while fostering the next generation of researchers. Our key areas of research include perioperative prevention, precision medicine, and emerging technologies and approaches such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. By translating scientific findings into clinical practice, we contribute to the continuous improvement of patient care.
Through undergraduate teaching and postgraduate education and training, we help prepare future generations of anaesthesiologists and intensive care physicians for their clinical and academic careers. We combine practical, hands-on teaching with a strong scientific foundation and promote critical thinking, lifelong learning, and empathy.
Our team is characterised by mutual respect and trust, diversity, multidisciplinary and interprofessional collaboration, and a shared enthusiasm for our field. Together, we foster an environment that supports academic excellence, professional development, and ethical practice.
We are dedicated experts in the care of our patients. We connect scientific research with clinical practice and are committed to integrity, responsibility, and excellence – in the service of our patients, students, and society.
Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Dr. med. univ. Stefan Schaller, MHBA
Head of Department
If you would like to support the department’s research, education, and the development of young researchers, you can find information on how to make a donation here.