Abstract: ［Abstract］〓Objective〖HTSS〗〓To investigate the safety and therapeutic effect of minimally invasive esophagectomy(MIE) for esophageal cancer.
〖HTH〗〖WTHZ〗Methods〖HTSS〗〓One hundred and twentythree cases of esophageal cancer in stage 0-Ⅲb were divided into MIE group with 68 cases and conventional thoracic surgery group with 55 cases according to their wishes. Operation time, bleeding volume, drainage volume of thoracic, chest drainage tube placement time, the time of beginning taking food, the level of post operation pain, the number of lymph node dissection and incidence of complications were compared between the two groups. Oneyear diseasefree survival rate and oneyear overall survival rate were analyzed.
〖HTH〗〖WTHZ〗Results〖HTSS〗〓The MIE group had significantly higher operation time, less bleeding volume, less chest drainage volume，shorter drainage tube placement time，shorter beginning taking food time，lighter operative pain，more number of the lymph node dissection than the conventional thoracic surgery group(P＜005). The incidence of postoperative pulmonary infection in MIE group were lower than the conventional thoracic surgery group（P＜005）. The incidence rate of anastomotic fistula, empyema, chylothorax, hoarseness and anastomotic stenosis had no statistics significancebetween the two groups（P＞005）. Oneyear diseasefree survival rate in MIE group was higher than the conventional thoracic surgery group(P＜005) and oneyear overall survival rate had no statistics significancebetween the two groups（P＞005）.
〖HTH〗〖WTHZ〗Conclusion〖HTSS〗〓The MIE has smaller damage and higher safety than conventional thoracic surgery, and it also can improve the diseasefree survival rate.

Key words: esophageal neoplasms, minimally invasive surgery, routine thoracotomy