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A group of 23 children suffering from neonatal hypoxia (pO2 less than 50 mm Hg) due to pneumothorax was examined at an average age of 14 months. Evaluation at this early developmental stage was accomplished by combination of "Motoscopy", "Vojta's postural reactions" and the "Concept of provocation of normal behaviour under adverse conditions". Development of the group as a whole was found to be unexpectedly good: Two children with cerebral palsy, and seven with yet undefinable developmental course versus fourteen obviously normally developing children. Pneumothorax and drainage did not cause the frequent transient postural asymmetries in this group.

A boy with oculo-cerebro-renal syndrome died at the age of 5 months after a rapid course of this disease with severe osteopathy resistant to therapy. Radiological findings and parameters of mineralisation metabolism will be shown. There are signs indicating both, a disturbed osteoid production due to the underlying disease and a diminished bone mineralisation because of the renal involvement.

In 191 children suffering from RDS treated by mechanical ventilation or CPAP + PEEP according to the same protocol the incidence of pneumothorax was determined with 23% (44 infants). Mean birthweight and mean gestational age were lower in infants who developed pneumothorax. Pneumothorax occurred more frequently in children with bad pre- and perinatal history. Children who developed pneumothorax had received a lower fluid intake than those without. Incidence varied with severity of RDS and intensity of respiratory assistance. We tried to asses the duration and severity of hypoxia by means of transcutaneous pO2 measure and arterial blood gas analyses. As fast diagnosis and therapy helps to shorten the duration of hypoxia, we listened up the most frequent alternations of vital signs associated with pneumothorax. We found cyanosis, changes in heart rate and respiratory rate, arterial blood pressure and decrease of paO2. Hints to avoid a pneumothorax are given.

In 21 infants requiring total parenteral nutrition 23 Silastic central venous catheters were placed by percutaneous insertion into the basilic vein. Weight of the infants was 1770 g (980-3540 g), age at time of insertion 1,6 days (1-16 d), gestational age 32 weeks (29-39) weeks. Catheters remained in place between 3 and 37 days, total 451 patient days. No problems as infection or thrombophlebitis or caval obstruction occurred.

Trypsin radioimmunoassay in dried blood spots has proven as a simple and reliable method for early detection of CF. We tested this method in 6524 newborns. Two cases of CF were found, no false negative results occurred. However in this time usefulness of screening for cystic fibrosis remains in question; although better results in lung-function and weight-gain can be found by early onset physiotherapy and substitution of pancreatic enzymes a specific therapy is still missing.

We report a patient with subcutaneous emphysema after a bilateral pneumothorax of gigantic extent: Subcutaneous emphysema extended over the chest, neck, axilla and both arms. The scalp was severed from the galea by an enormous air-cushion. Theories about the pathogenetic mechanisms are discussed. Therapy consisted of treatment of the underlying condition e. g. thoracocentesis with pleural drainage and artificial ventilation. The subcutaneous emphysema resolved without further therapeutic measures; only the subgaleal air was removed by aspiration.

A commercial latex agglutination test (Wellcogen Strep B) has been prepared for testing body fluids. This test does not require a special equipment and is very easy to handle. Results are established within few minutes. We examined this method in unconcentrated urine specimens of 98 pre- and full term neonates suffering from RDS. In all 48 cultural proven cases of strep. B sepsis LAT was positive, the test was performed 2.5 h-19 h after onset of RDS. Four times we could not exclude false positive results definitively, but no false negative results were found.