[New trends in diagnosis and therapy in pediatric surgery]

The advent of new and improved diagnostic methods has had favourable bearings on therapeutic achievements in paediatric surgery. Ultrasonography, computer tomography, manometry, and endoscopy are major examples of relevance. Prenatal diagnostic ultrasonography has been assuming a growing role in prenatal detection of malformations. Postnatal corrective surgery can thus be properly planned and performed under conditions which are optimum for mother and child. Many examples are given to demonstrate that in today's paediatric surgery possibilities for diagnosis and therapy have substantially improved, last but not least, owing to efficient interdisciplinary cooperation.