[Prevention and treatment of pleuropulmonary complications after simultaneous reconstructive operations on the esophagus in esophageal cancer].

Pleuropulmonary complications in 50 patients who underwent operation for esophageal carcinoma with simultaneous esophagogastroplasty were most frequent (59%) and serious and accounted for up to 60% of all causes of early postoperative mortality. In operations through a transthoracic approach these complications occur more frequently (75%) than in operations without thoracotomy (48%). The possible causes and measures for the prevention of pleuropulmonary complications in the pre-, intra-, and postoperative periods are discussed. Particular attention is focused on the acute respiratory insufficiency syndrome during resection of the esophagus without thoracotomy. It is concluded that this serious pathological condition can be avoided by a complex of preventive and therapeutic measures carried out in all stages of treatment.