China is one of the countries with the highest incidence of esophageal cancer, which is still increasing year by year in recent years. Surgical treatment is the first choice for early and middle esophageal cancer. Surgeons have been exploring how to remove the tumor as completely as possible and reduce the trauma as far as possible. In recent years, with the rapid development of minimally invasive surgery and endoscopic technology, minimally invasive esophagectomy(MIE)has led the trend of radical surgery for esophageal cancer. At present, the mainstream minimally invasive surgery is thoracoscopic thoracoscopic(VATS)resection of esophageal cancer, which requires thoracotomy and anesthesia, resulting in large surgical trauma and more complications of postoperative circulatory respiratory system. Mediastinose-assisted esophagectomy(MAE), which eliminates a thoracotomy, is also an important part of MIE. Overseas MAE application started early, but the domestic development is relatively slow. This article summarizes the experience of different MAE surgical methods in China, and provides the basis for its promotion in China.