Up to recent years, it was generally believed that bronchopleural fistulas and respiratory failure were the principal determinants of postoperative morbidity and mortality of major lung resections. It is nowadays known that these procedures are frequently complicated by postoperative pneumonia (POP). Patient undergoing lobectomy or pneumonectomy carry many risk factors of POP, because of frequent history of tobacco consumption, and possibly associated chronic bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), neoplastic disease, extrathoracic co-morbidities and poor nutritional status. Postoperative administration of morphinics may further induce hypoventilation with possibly related complications.