Indication and results of thoracic surgical procedures in premature infants.

This analysis concerns three groups of malformations: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia, patent ductus arteriosus, and oesophageal atresia. We registered a total mortality rate for all congenital diaphragmatic hernias and defects of 28.5%; the rate in full-term neonates was 27.6% and in premature infants 33.6%. Of 65 infants with a patent ductus arteriosus and a birth weight less than 1500 g, 14 died (21.5%). In most cases death was caused by sepsis. Among the 159 patients with oesophageal atresia who were treated in our hospital, 58 were premature infants. During the last 20 years, the total mortality rate among our patients was 28.9%. We had a mortality rate of 44.8% in premature infants and of 19.8% in full-term neonates. An analysis of the last 10 years showed a survival rate of 97% in healthy infants (group A in Waterston's classification). In group C, the most disadvantageous group (premature infants, severe anomalies), the rate was 61%.