Concomitant preoperative airflow obstruction confers worse prognosis after trans-thoracic surgery for esophageal cancer.

Preoperative airflow obstruction defined by FEV/FVC ratio below LLN was an independent risk factor for mortality in esophageal cancer patients after trans-thoracic esophagectomy. Comprehensive management of airflow obstruction and more personalized surgical decision-making are necessary to improve survival outcomes in esophageal cancer patients.