[Postoperative complications in thoracic surgery. Special aspects].

Complications are quite common in thoracic surgery due to the comorbidities of the mostly elderly patients and to the fact that the surgical procedure itself compromises the respiratory apparatus. Consequently, pneumonia and respiratory failure represent the most common causes of death. Postoperatively, early diagnosis and treatment of these complications are paramount while most other events can be anticipated and thus be avoided with corresponding operative experience.