Management of Acute Respiratory Failure after Surgery for Esophageal Cancer / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Acute respiratory failure (ARF) after operation for esophageal carcinoma is a serious challenge to medical management and usually accompanied by a high mortality rate. This paper present author's experience on the management of 10 such cases. It is emphasized that advanced age, long-history of smoking, COPD are predisposing factors and in-trathoracic surgery and its complication may trigger the ARF,which usually occurs within 48-72 hours after operation. Besides assist mechanical ventilation, thorough clearance of the secretion from the respiratory tract, control of pulmonary infection and early eradication of the intrathoracic complications are the key points of the successful treatment. Preoperative pulmonary functional studies with careful analysis in correlation with patients condition is mandatory especially in elderly patients. Prevention is more important and valuable than treatment for the patients with postoperative acute respiratory failure.