Background
Esophageal cancer, malignancy, respiratory muscle, pain
ESOPHAGEAL CANCER
Esophageal cancer has been reported as the 7th most common malignancy in the world [It has been reported that different strategies, including adequate pain control, respiratory muscle training, nebulizer treatment, fluid balance control, and corticosteroid administration, can be employed to decrease pulmonary secretions after esophagectomy, with variable efficacies [The present study conducted a randomized clinical trial, and compared the postoperative outcomes of patients with or without fiberoptic bronchoscopic sputum aspiration and lavage after minimally invasive thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy, with the purpose of improving the recovery and prognosis of these patients.