The aim of this article is to give a short review of problems associated with the intensive care treatment of patients after esophageal resection. Pulmonary dysfunction, supraventricular tachyarrhythmia, anastomotic leakage and mental disorders are the topics covered. Systemic inflammatory reaction and sepsis is the linking topic between these specific complications. Pulmonary dysfunction having an incidence of up to 40% is the most important complication. Low tidal volume ventilation, pain management including epidural analgesia and early tracheostomy are the mainstay of therapy. Supraventricular tachyarrhythmia is an early indicator of emerging complications. Its symptomatic treatment is standardized using electric cardioversion, beta-blockers and amiodarone. Anastomotic leakage must be suspect in any septic episode.Endoscopy and contrast studies allow for precise diagnosis. Interventional endoscopy is increasingly successful in the therapy of these leakages. Microbiological surveillance and specific antibiotic therapy ensure that a complication does not cause a septic cascade leading to multiorgan failure. The workload on ICU caused by a patient after esophageal resection still exceeds that of most other patients with gastrointestinal surgery.