[Tracheal aplasia--an especially rare and dramatic anomaly].

Tracheal agenesis (TA), aplasia or total atresia of the trachea are congenital anomalies which are still incompatible with life. Despite the many attempts of different interventions, there are yet no promising, long-term methods of treatment. Only with sufficient proportion of the proximal or distal trachea available, it is possible to place a tracheostomy, which also opens up new vistas of life for the affected child.