Predicting and Preventing Postoperative Pulmonary Complications after Esophagectomy in the Era of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery

Abstract

Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPC), anastomotic leakage and cardiac complications were the most common complications after planned esophagectomy, with an incidence of 30%, 19% and 13% respectively. However, 5-year survival in early stage esophageal cancer patients with or without postoperative pulmonary complications was 40% and 65%. In the era of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS), PPC after esophagectomy has dropped greatly owing to more proven evidence including perioperative goal-guided hemodynamic therapy, intraoperative protective ventilation, effective multimodal pain relief, minimally invasive esophagectomy compared with several years ago.