Objective: To clarify the risk factors for the occurrence of pulmonary complication after esophagectomy. Material and method: To Analyse 337 consecutive patients underwent esophagectomy for cancer at Viet Duc hospital from Jan.2006 to Dec. 2013. The frequency of any pulmonary complication was recorded among patients. Univariate analysis was used to identifypotential covariates for the development of major pulmonary complications. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of complications. Results: A total of 337 patients including 325 niales (96,4 percent) and 12 females (3,6 percent)
mean age: 53,5 + or - 7,96 years old (34-75). Traditional open esophagectomy occourred in 189 patients (56.1 percent), MIE in 148 patients (43,9 percent). One hundred and eight pulmonary complications of different type were recorded (30,6 percent), including: ARDS 33 patients (30,6 percent), respiratory failure (initial ventilatory support for more than 48 hours) in 48 patients (44,4 percent), chylothorax 9(8.3 percent), pleural effusion 11 (10,2 percent), atelectasis 5 (4,6 percent) and empyema in 2 patients (1,9 percent). Three factors defined as independent risk factors for pulmonary complication were age more than 60 years old, FEV1 (percent predicted) less than 70 percent and traditional open esophagectomy. Conclusion: Pulmonary complication after esophagectomy for cancer remained high despite advances in management. Elderly patients more than 60 years old with FEV 1 percent less than 70 percent should be carefully considered when indicating surgery for esophagectomy. Minimally invasive esophagectomy should be used when having technical feasibility and experiences.