Journal of thoracic disease
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To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) in the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) following esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. ⋯ NPPV may be an effective option for the treatment of ARDS/acute lung injury (ALI) following esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. However, conversion to invasive mechanical ventilation should be considered in patients with severe postoperative complications such as acute renal dysfunction and cardiac arrest and in those with PaO2/FiO2 <180 after 2 h of NPPV.