Objective:To compare the short-term efficacy of purse sting forceps Ivor-Lewis approach and Mc Keown approach in minimally invasive esophagectomy for middle-lower section esophageal cancer. Methods:The clinical data of 106 patients who had middle or lower esophageal cancer and accepted minimally invasive esophagectomy surgeries by our surgical team from January 2012 to September 2015 were analyzed

including 41 patients receiving purse sting forceps minimally invasive Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy(MIILE) and 65 receiving minimally invasive Mc Keown esophagectomy(MIME). The operation duration

hemorrhage during operation

the number of lymph nodes resected

postoperative hospital stay

extubation time

hospitalization expense were analyzed and compared.Postoperative complications such as incision infection

anastomotic orifice stenosis

anastomotic or tubed stomach fistula

chylothorax

pulmonary infection and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury were also analyzed. Results:The operation duration

postoperative hospital stay and extubation time in the purse sting forceps MIILE group was shorter than those in MIME group(P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the amount of hemorrhage during operation

the number of lymph nodes resected and inpatient cost(P >0.05). The rates of anastomotic fistula

pulmonary infection and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury were lower in MIILE group than in MIME group(P<0.05). There are no statistical differences between the two groups in incision infection

anastomotic orifice stenosis and chylothorax(P >0.05). Conclusion:In minimally invasive esophagectomy in middle-lower section

purse sting forceps MIILE is as safe as MIME

but with lower complications.