ObjectiveTo summarize the clinical experience of thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma. MethodWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 38 patients with esophageal carcinoma undergoing thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy in Central Hospital of Chongqing Three Gorges between March 2011 and March 2013. There were 25 males and 13 females aged 64.25±7.68 years (ranged 45-79 years). The esophagus was freed and the lymph nodes were cleaned under the thoracoscope in the left lateral position. Then the stomach was freed under laparoscope and lifted up to anastomose with the esophagus through the passageway behind the sternal bone. ResultsAll surgical process progressed successfully without intraoperative death or major hemorrhage. The total operating time ranged from 250 to 340 minutes. The intraoperative hemorrhage ranged from 80 to 350 ml. The number of lymph nodes cleaned ranged from 7 to 15 (10.24±2.04) and a total of 8 patients were found of tumor metastasis. Postoperative stage grading indicated 8 patients of T1N0M0, 16 patients of T2N0M0, 5 patients of T2N1M0, 6 patients of T3N0M0 and 3 patients of T3N1M0. Postoperative complications included chylothorax in 1 patient, pulmonary infection in 4 patients, and cervical anastomotic leakage in 4 patients. All 38 patients were followed up for 3 to 12 (6.31±2.18) months, and 1 patient was lost. Two patients died from cervical anastomotic leakage resulting in chest infection. The other all achieved recoveries without metastatic or recurrence of tumor. ConclusionThe intraoperative and postoperative complications of thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma are less frequently than traditional surgery, so it's worthy of promotion in large regional general hospitals.