To compare the effects of minimally invasive radical resection and traditional radical resection on pulmonary function in patients with esophageal cancer complicated with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

138 patients with esophageal cancer complicated with COPD treated in our hospital from February 2017 to February 2019 were selected for clinical study. The patients were divided into control group (n=69) and observation group (n=69) by random number table method. The patients in control group were treated with traditional radical operation, while those in observation group were treated with minimally invasive radical operation for esophageal cancer. SPSS20.0 statistical software was used for analysis. The independent sample t test was used to compare the static pulmonary function indicators and surgical conditions of the two groups, and the data was shown by. The χ² test was used to compare the MRC grading and postoperative pulmonary complications of the two groups.

Compared with the control group, the proportion of patients with mild MRC in the observation group increased significantly, and the proportion of patients with severe MRC decreased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the lung diffusive capacity (DLco/SB) and the lung diffusive volume (DLco/VA) per unit lung volume in the observation group were significantly higher, while the forced vital capacity (FVC) and the first second forced expiratory volume occupied forced vital capacity ratio (FEV1/FVC) in the two groups had no statistical significance (P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the operation time, bleeding volume, drainage time and hospitalization time of the observation group were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in the number of lymph nodes dissected between the two groups (P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the incidence of pulmonary complications in the observation group decreased significantly(χ²=10.817, P=0.001).

Compared with traditional radical surgery, minimally invasive radical resection of esophageal cancer can significantly improve pulmonary function in patients with esophageal cancer and COPD. Meanwhile, the intraoperative and postoperative pulmonary complications were significantly improved.