Reducing pulmonary complications after esophagectomy for cancer

Esophageal cancer has a fast-growing incidence. It is the eight most common cancer worldwide, with 456.000 patients diagnosed annually. The cornerstone of curative care for esophageal cancer is neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapyfollowed by esophagectomy with a two-field lymphadenectomy. Although many advances in surgical techniques have already been made, postoperative morbidity remains high, with morbidity and mortality incidences reported up to 65% and 15% respectively. This thesis describes several surgical and peri-operative techniques to decrease pulmonary complicatiosn after esophagectomy for cancer.