Many patients have long-term intermittent cough in the initial months after undergoing surgical treatment for esophageal cancer. The reasons for this are analyzed by personal clinical experience as follows: Li Jindong, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Henan Cancer Hospital 1. Failure to cough effectively after surgery, resulting in local lung non-surging, manifesting as multiple baroclinic shadow or even patchy shadow in both lungs. 2. Pleural irritation caused by a small amount of postoperative pleural effusion. The above two causes can be solved by strengthening deep breathing exercises (deep inhalation and slow exhalation) and active coughing and sputum removal exercises. 3. Stimulation of the trachea and bronchi by the thoracic stomach. This can only be relieved by slow adaptation over time after surgery.4. Gastroesophageal reflux, especially in patients receiving a cervical anastomosis. This cause is most likely to be ignored by patients and even doctors. It is wise to eat less and eat more in the first few months after surgery, “8 minutes full” per meal, intermittent oral morpholine, supplemented with omeprazole if necessary, to reduce gastroesophageal reflux; in addition, do not lie down immediately after eating, you should make it a habit to move around for half an hour after meals, and do not eat one hour before bedtime. Food, especially liquid food; a bag of milk before bedtime is a very bad dietary habit for patients with esophageal cancer receiving neck anastomosis.