目的　探讨电视辅助胸腔镜手术 (VATS)在治疗食管癌中的应用、手术方法及临床效果。方法　利用胸腔镜技术对 38例食管癌病人进行手术 ,并对手术操作、并发症及术后恢复等情况进行总结性分析。结果　38例病人全部采用VATS方法完成手术 ,1例发生支气管胸膜瘘 ,5例术后发生吻合口瘘 ,经简单对症治疗全部治愈 ,无死亡病例。术后 1年、3年、5年生存者 ,分别为 10、8、4例 ,术后因肿瘤转移死亡 3例 ,其它原因死亡 2例 ,失访 7例 ,余 4例为术后不足 1年的病人 ,尚未见肿瘤复发、转移情况。结论　只要掌握好胸腔镜的操作技巧及食管癌切除的手术指征 ,VATS治疗食管癌不但是可行的 ,而且具有广阔的前景 Objective To investigate the application of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in the treatment of esophageal cancer, surgical methods and clinical effects. Methods Thirty - six patients with esophageal cancer underwent thoracoscopic surgery. The surgical operation, complication and postoperative recovery were analyzed retrospectively. Results All 38 patients underwent surgery with VATS. One patient had bronchopleural fistula and five patients had anastomotic fistula after operation. All the patients were cured by simple symptomatic treatment without any death. One year, three years and five years after operation were 10, 8, and 4 cases respectively. There were 3 cases died of tumor metastasis after operation, 2 cases died of other causes, 7 cases were lost to follow-up, and the remaining 4 cases were less than 1 after operation Years of patients, no tumor recurrence, metastasis. Conclusion As long as the operating skills of thoracoscope and surgical indications for esophageal resection are mastered, VATS is not only feasible but also has a bright future for esophageal cancer