目的　为了探讨高龄肺癌与食管癌外科术后肺部并发症的发病规律。方法　对 1980年～ 1998年间 2 5 9例 65～ 85岁患者进行分析。结果　高龄患者术后肺部并发症有如下特征 :高龄组高于低龄组 ,二者比 1.6∶1。肺癌高于食管癌 ,比例 1.8∶1。发生率从前期的 19.4%降到后期的 5 .1%。致死率低于一般报告。结论　高龄患者术后并发症和死亡率的降低 ,主要取决于积极预防、良好的外科技巧、早期诊断、合理治疗和严格护理 Objective To investigate the incidence of pulmonary complications after surgery for elderly lung cancer and esophageal cancer. Methods Two hundred and ninety-nine patients 65 to 85 years of age between 1980 and 1998 were analyzed. Results Postoperative pulmonary complications in older patients were as follows: older age group was higher than younger age group, with a ratio of 1.6:1. Lung cancer is higher than esophageal cancer, with a ratio of 1.8:1. The incidence dropped from 19.4% in the previous period to 5.1% in the later period. Fatality rate is lower than the general report. Conclusion The reduction of postoperative complications and mortality in elderly patients depends mainly on active prevention, good surgical techniques, early diagnosis, reasonable treatment, and rigorous care.