Objective      To compare the clinical efficacy of minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) versus open esophagectomy (OE) in radical resection of esophagus carcinoma.       Methods      Clinical data of 108 patients with esophageal cancer receiving radical resection of esophagus at our institution who were treated between October 2012 and July 2014 were collected and retrospectively analyzed. Of the 108 patients

51 patients underwent MIE (MIE group) and 57 patients underwent OE (OE group). Surgical outcomes

oncological outcomes and postoperative complications were compared between the 2 groups.       Results      There was neither significant difference between the 2 groups in preoperative clinical characteristics nor in the median operative times and frequency of intraoperative blood transfusion. But between the MIE group and OE group

there were significant different in the amount of intraoperative blood loss (150.5±30.4 vs 215.5±40.4 mL)

the infused amount of intravenous fluids (2.2 vs 3.1 L)

the median length of ICU stay (1 vs 2 d) and median length of postoperative hospital stay (8 vs 10 d). The median number of harvested lymph nodes and resection margins positive rate had no difference in the MIE group and OE group. The incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications were significantly lower in the MIE group than OE group (2 vs 25 cases

3.9% vs 43.8%).       Conclusion      MIE not only has equivalent effect in oncological outcomes as OE

but also is superior to the latter in reducing length of hospital stay

intraoperative blood loss and postoperative pulmonary complications.