[Postoperative lung complications: special problems exemplified by esophageal surgery].

Pulmonary problems in esophageal surgery can result from the resection itself (intraoperative pulmonary trauma), the reconstruction procedure (intrathoracic organ interposition) and aspiration due to postoperative impairment of swallowing. Therapeutic strategies include postoperative ventilation, deflation of the interponate and a special dietary plan. Our rate of 5.2% postoperative pulmonary complications underlines the efficiency of our treatment modalities.