OBJECTIVETo evaluate the impact of hand video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (HVATS) and Ivor-Lewis surgery on short term quality of life (QL) of patients with esophageal cancer.

METHODSThirty-nine consecutive patients with esophageal cancer were classified into HVATS group (n = 21) and Ivor-Lewis group (n = 18) randomly, all patients completed the Chinese versions of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ)-C30 and QLQ-OES18 before treatment and at regular intervals until 6 months after operation. MEAN scores were calculated for every patient.

RESULTSBaseline functional and symptom QL MEAN scores were similar in both groups. All patients reported worse functional, symptom and global QL scores (QOL) within 6 months after operation than before. HVATS group gained higher functional, global QL scores and lower symptom scores than Ivor-Lewis group, moreover, patients' QL scores of HVATS group returned to preoperative levels more quickly than those patients in Ivor-Lewis group. Significant differences were found in global health (QOL), physical functioning, fatigue and pain scales between groups. In both groups, QLQ-OES18 dysphagia scales were improved after surgery,but no significant differences were found at scales respect to esophageal cancer.

CONCLUSIONSHVATS esophagectomy is a safe procedure which has a low disturbance to patients' short term Quality of Life compared with Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy. It might seem reasonable to choose HVATS esophagectomy for patients with early stage esophageal cancer.