Abstract:Objective To investigate the effects of endotracheal tube cuff pressure on perioperative sore throat and pulmonary complications in elderly patients with esophageal cancer.Methods From February 2022 to February 2023, a total of 84 esophageal cancer patients who were admitted to Yancheng Third People's Hospital and underwent thoracoscopic radical surgery for esophageal cancer were selected. They were divided into the cuff pressure-controlled group (experimental group) and the cuff pressure-uncontrolled group (control group), with 42 cases in each group. The duration of anesthesia and surgery, endotracheal tube cuff pressure, intraoperative blood loss, and incidences of pharyngeal complications including sore throat, dry throat, dysphonia and dysphagia were compared between the two groups. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores 1 h and 24 h after the surgery were compared between the two groups. The arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) 15 min, 10 min and 5 min before the patients came out of the operating room were compared between the two groups. The incidence and severity of pulmonary complications (including cough, atelectasis, pneumonia, pleural effusion, pneumothorax and suspected pneumonia) were compared between the two groups.Results The endotracheal tube cuff pressure in the control group was higher than that in the experimental group (P < 0.05). The incidences of sore throat and dry throat in the control group were significantly higher than those in the experimental group (P < 0.05). The VAS scores for the sore throat 1 h and 24 h after surgery in the control group were significantly higher than those in the experimental group (P < 0.05). The comparison of SpO2 15 min, 10 min, and 5 min before the patients came out of the operating room in the experimental group and the control group showed that there were differences in SpO2 at different time points (P < 0.05) and between the two groups (P < 0.05), and that the SpO2 in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group. There was no statistically significant difference in the change trend of SpO2 between the two groups (P > 0.05). The incidence and grading of pulmonary complications in the control group were significantly higher than those in the experimental group (P < 0.05).Conclusion The control of the endotracheal tube cuff pressure during thoracoscopic radical surgery for esophageal cancer is beneficial in reducing postoperative sore throat and pulmonary complications.