Surgery for congenital malformations of the lung.

In the course of a survey conducted in 59 hospitals performing thoracic surgery, 14 hospitals supplied data that could be used for the study. Out of 1347 anomalies diagnosed 1343 were surgically treated, with a 30-day mortality rate of 0.3% (5 patients). In a retrospective study over a period of 10 years (1978-1988) we identified 198 anomalies out of a total of 6350 thoracotomies; so our percentage grading of pulmonary anomalies is supported by the data of the above-mentioned survey according to which cystic pulmonary malformations such as inhibition malformations, excess malformation and lobar emphysema represent a majority with 72.2% (survey 83%). Congenital anomalies of lung formation occurred in 23% of the patients of the survey and in 15% of our own patients. Therapy consisted of parenchyma-saving surgery, i.e. enucleation (n = 87), segmental resection (n = 65) and lobectomy (n = 63) with bronchoplastic reconstruction; there was no 30-day mortality. Adenomatoid-cystic malformation, lymphangiectasis, congenital lobar emphysema and stenosis of the tracheobronchial tree are often an indication for immediate surgical treatment in neonates. Solitary cysts, bronchiectasis, sequestration of the lung, an AV-fistula present with symptoms mostly between the ages of 20-40 and therefore were surgically treated secondarily.