Objective  The present paper discusses the related risk factors of respiratory failure after esophagectomy.

  Methods  Logistic stepwise regression analysis was used to conduct a case control analysis of the medical records of 63 patients with respiratory failure after esophagectomy, as well as another 63 postoperative patients without failure in the First Department of Thoracic Oncology, Xinxiang Central Hospital, between January 2007 and June 2010.

  Results  Pulmonary disease history, smoking, impairment of lung function, operating time, tubular stomach, postoperative complications, and preoperative heart diseases showed a significant correlation with postoperative respiratory failure. Among the aforementioned factors, the tubular stomach is considered the protective factor (β < 0). After the analysis of the case group, the death risk for respiratory failure obviously increased in patients with preoperative moderate or severe impairment of lung function, basic pulmonary disease, long-time use of the tracheal intubation and breathing machine, and related postoperative complications (P < 0.05).

  Conclusion  A focus on the prevention and control of risk factors can effectively reduce the occurrence of the respiratory failure.