Objective To evaluate the clinical application of combination of thoracoscopy and laparoscopy in the treatment of esophageal carcinoma． Methods Combined thoracoscopy and laparoscopy esophagectomy was carried out in 25 patients with esophageal cancer． Being placed at a left lateral decubitus position，the patients received right thoracoscopy mobilization of the intrathoracic esophagus as well as lymph node dissection; then with supine position，laparoscopy mobilization of the stomach and lymph node dissection were carried out; followed by creation of a gastric tube through a small incision under the xiphoid; finally we pulled out the gastric tube from the esophageal bed to the neck and made an intermittent gastroesophageal anastomosis． Results The total operation time ranged from 270 to 400 minutes with a mean of 338 minutes． No massive hemorrhage occurred during the operation，and the total blood loss ranged from 100 to 600 ml( with a mean of 227 ml) ． Totally 185 lymphnods were removed( 7． 4 per patient on average) ． The hospital stay in this series ranged from 8 to 20 days ( with a mean of 10． 3 days) ． One case had to be converted to open esophagectomy for azygos vein rupture． One patient died for pulmonary infection combined with cervical anastomotic leak，other postoperative complications included 1 case of delayed gastric emptying，1 case of chylothorax，and 2 cases of hoarseness． Conclusion Combination of thoracoscopy and laparoscopy esophagectomy is feasible for the treatment of esophageal carcinoma．【Key words】Esophageal carcinoma; Thoracoscopy; Laparoscopy;

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