[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. In most cases the seldom deformation, trachealagenesis, does not get recognised before the child is born. It may therefore be the immediate diagnosis postnatal that is decisive over the final prognosis of the child. The prepartal suspicion of a duodenal stenosis, an aphonic newborn as well as the frustrane attempts of intubation are possible guidelines of TA. In independence of peripartal and anamnestical factors, individual disciplinary decisions are necessary for further treatments. After the cancellation of intensive care the premature infant of the case report died as consequence of postnatal diagnosed tracheal aplasia. Under circumstances, medical treatments such as the ex utero intrapartum procedure (Exit), the temporary method of extracorporal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) or the use of cartilage tissue for the plastic trachea reconstruction can provide advanced medical opportunities.