Abstract: Esophageal carcinoma is one of the most common malignant tumours in China, surgery is one of the traditional therapy with a high complications rate. Among them, the anastomotic fistula was significant. At present, with the development of surgical technique, the incidence of anastomotic fistula become lower day by day, postoperative pulmonary complications of esophageal carcinoma has taken place of anastomotic fistula and become the main complications. The causes of pulmonary complication including pulmonary embolism, infection and acute lung injury have been revealed by recent researches. This article reviews the pathogenesis， prophylaxis and therapeutics of postoperative pulmonary complications of esophageal carcinoma.