The impact of prophylactic administration of a neutrophil elastase inhibitor on the postoperative course in older patients undergoing esophagectomy for esophageal cancer: a propensity score-matched analysis

Background Sivelestat, a selective inhibitor of neutrophil elastase, has been reported to reduce acute lung injury associated with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). However, no study has addressed the effect of prophylactic sivelestat administration on the postoperative course following an esophagectomy in older patients.