[Congenital anomalies reflected in materials of obstetric ward of the Hospital of Internal Affairs in Warsaw during the period 1988-96].

A congenital anomaly consists of a departure from the normal anatomic architecture of an organ or system. Malformations can be considered as the result of a developmental arrest of the primordium (incomplete morphogenesis), redundant morphogenesis, or aberrant morphogenesis. Congenital malformations establish more and more percentage of reason of incidence and morbidity in newborn and young children. It is also great family and social problem. The subjects studied were all cases of abnormality identified pre- or postnatally. The commonest system malformations were urogenitally tract, central nervous system, skeleton, craniofacial, heart and skin abnormalities. The most frequent single anomalies were--hypospadias, cleft lip/cleft palate, anomalies of hands and feet, vertebral malformations, meningocele, heart abnormalities and Down syndrome.