[Congenital disorders of the lungs and airways--survey of cases at the Paediatric Hospital Erlangen in the period 2000 to 2011].

Background: Congenital malformations of the lungs are rare, but might limit the quality of life of the patient. With the increased possibilities of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures during the last decades, these diseases can be recognised and successfully treated earlier than before. The aim of this article is to give an overview about the congenital malformations of the lungs in children who have been treated at the Kinderklinik Erlangen during the years 2000 and 2011. Clinical symptoms of the disease and associated malformations, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures were discussed.
Methods: The analysis was done retrospectively (January 1st 2000-April 15th 2011) on the basis of the patients records. Patients who had been treated only at the outpatient clinic were not considered. All patients' data were listed according to the ICD code.
Results: 121 children were treated because of a congenital malformation of the lungs in the years between 2000 and 2011 in Erlangen. 68.6 % (n = 83) were males and 31.45 % (n = 38) were females. Nearly all of the malformations of the lungs were associated with other abnormalities. Most of the children also suffered from at least one cardiac defect. 28 of the 121 children had more than one malformation of the lungs. The diagnostic and therapeutic interventions correlated with the published recommendations.
Conclusions: The analysis of the patients' data used in this study indicate the importance of the early diagnosis and treatment. The cooperation of different medical disciplines is mandatory for a good outcome of those children.
(© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)