title: [Comparison of VATS and mini-incision thoracotomy for the treatment of benign esophageal diseases].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare video-assisted thoracis surgery (VATS) and mini-incision thoracotomy for the treatment of benign esophageal diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical data of 52 patients with benign esophageal diseases underwent minimally invasive surgical treatment from January 1995 to January 2007 were analyzed retrospectively. VATS were performed in 25 cases and mini-incision thoracotomy were performed in 27 cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no operative death or major perioperative complications in both groups. There were no significant difference between them according to operation time, postoperative thoracic drainage time, postoperative gastric drainage time and postoperative hospital stay time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For the treatment of benign esophageal diseases, both VATS and mini-incision thoracotomy are safe and effective. VATS can be performed in suitable cases with more minimal incision and decreased operative trauma, mini-incision thoracotomy can be performed in almost all cases, preferring the sophisticated cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Hospital of Peking University, Beijing 100034, China.
authors.forename: Hu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Tong-lin
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome