Patients undergoing esophagectomy, and their family or care taker, should receive pre-operative counseling with emphasis on perioperative and postoperative targets and goals. (1C)

Smoking should be stopped 4 weeks prior to surgery and regular high alcohol consumers should abstain at least 4 weeks before surgery to reduce postoperative complications. (1C)

CPET results have been used to assess patients undergoing major surgery, to guide preoperative optimization, to predict postoperative cardiopulmonary complications after surgery and, in some centers, to assess whether borderline patients should undergo resection. Evidence in support of the use of exercise derived parameters in risk stratification of esophageal resection patients is currently limited. (2C)

We suggest that whatever technique is used for interscalene BPB, the minimum success rate compatible with expert practice is 95% and the maximum total incidence of complication should be no more than 7%. (2C)

We suggest that ultrasound guidance is used for interscalene brachial plexus block because of its theoretical advantages, its high success rates and evidence that it requires fewer needle passes and lower volumes of local anaesthetic agent. There is evidence that ultrasound guidance does not increase harm and it may be associated with a reduced rate of complications. (2C)

We recommend that ultrasound guidance is used for supraclavicular brachial plexus block because of its theoretical advantages and evidence for its reduced risk of inadequate block. There is evidence that ultrasound guidance does not increase harm and it may be associated with a reduced rate of complications, the incidence of which is low. (1C)

We suggest that whatever technique is used for supraclavicular BPB, the minimum success rate compatible with expert practice is 86% and the total incidence of pneumothorax or vascular puncture should be no more than 1%. (2C)

We recommend that ultrasound guidance is used for infraclavicular brachial plexus block because of its theoretical advantages and possible evidence for a reduced risk of inadequate block. There is evidence that ultrasound guidance does not increase harm and is associated with a reduced rate of vascular puncture. (1C)

We suggest that whatever technique is used for infraclavicular BPB, the minimum success rate compatible with expert practice is 86% and the maximum incidence of vascular puncture should be no more than 4%. (2C)

We recommend that ultrasound guidance is used for axillary brachial plexus block because of its theoretical advantages and possible evidence for a reduced risk of inadequate block. There is evidence that USG does not increase harm and is associated with a possible reduced rate of vascular puncture and a reduced incidence of pain during the procedure. (1C)