Abstract: With the development of the surgical technique, the minimally invasive esophagectomy, aiming to decrease the morbidity and mortality rates due to esophageal cancer, has been performed in more and more medical centers in Chi -na and worldwide. In this paper, the concept, technique, lymphadenectomy, complications and mortality, as well as the post-operative quality of life of the minimally invasive esophagectomy, are reviewed. Even though it is still difficult to define the minor wound or micro-trauma because there is not yet a unified standard for the minimally invasive esophagectomy, vari-ous clinical data have shown this surgical procedure enjoys a lot of advantages. In the operative approach of esophagecto-my, more and more surgeons engaging in micro-traumatic surgery are adopting an operation mode similar to that of Ivor-Lewis operation mode, and have obtained as good or better results in lymphodenectomy as in open surgery. The post-operative quality of life of the patients undergoing this micro-traumatic surgery is better compared to those with open surgery. As for the morbidity and mortality rates, the minimally invasive esophagectomy showed satisfactory results as well, like the open surgery. As it is just in the beginning stages, the technique of minimally invasive esophagectomy will continue to be improved in the future.