Kaufmann KB, Baar W, Glatz T, et al. - In view of the observation that following esophagectomy, postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) are the most frequent complications, researchers sought for modifiable risk factors for PPCs and 90-days mortality related to PPCs after esophagectomy in patients with esophageal cancer. In this single-center retrospective cohort study of 335 eligible patients, they noted PPC incidence of 52% (175/335) and 90-days mortality rate of 8% (26/335) among patients with PPCs. The only independent patient-specific risk factor for the incidence of PPCs was ASA score ≥ 3. As per the multivariate approach, there were two independent procedural risk factors including transfusion of packed red blood cells and absence of thoracic epidural anesthesia. Findings suggest that a reduction in 90-days mortality related to PPCs among esophageal cancer patients undergoing esophagectomy via thoracotomy could be achieved with epidural analgesia and the avoidance of intraoperative blood transfusion.