Objective To explore the feasibility of single mediastinal drainage tube in treatment of esophageal carcinoma after thoracoscopic combined with laparoscopic surgery. Methods There were 90 esophagus cancer patients treated by surgery in our hospital between June 2015 and October 2016. The patients were allocated into two groups including a single-drainage tube group and a two-drainage tube group. There were 45 patients with 24 males and 21 females at age of 48-78 years in the two-drainage tube group and 45 patients with 23 males and 22 females at age of 45-84 years in the single-drainage tube group.The clinical effect of the two groups was compared. Results There was no statistical difference in gender and age, bleeding amount and surgical duration in operation, thoracic drainage amount, incidence of atelectasis, pneumothorax, and encapsulated effusion between the two groups(P<0.05). Discussion Single-drainage tube group displays less postoperative pain, faster recovery, and more convenient clinical care without complication.