[Indications for surgery and results of 207 thoracotomies in children with diseases of the lung, pleura and mediastinum].

Between 1968 and 1988, 207 children with congenital, inflammatory, and neoplastic diseases of the lung, pleura, and mediastinum underwent thoracotomy. In 34 patients indication for operation was a therapy-resistent recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax, in 25 benign and malignant mediastinal tumors, in 26 pulmonary metastases of extrathoracic primary tumors, in 42 bronchiectasis and post-pneumonic empyema with callosity, in 21 bronchogenic and enterogenous cysts. 22 children had benign tumors of the trachea, bronchi, and lung, 5 malignant tumors of the lung and chest wall. In a smaller number of children congenital defects, parasitic cysts, and aspergillomas as well as foreign bodies, were present. The surgical procedure included anatomical and atypical resections, bronchoplastic interventions, exstirpation of tumors and cysts, decortications and partial resections of the parietal pleura. There was no perioperative mortality.