Minimally invasive and open heart are just surgical pathways or surgical methods. The so-called minimally invasive surgery for esophageal cancer now refers to the application of thoracoscopic or laparoscopic approach, which makes the surgical incision smaller with the help of endoscopy, and through small incisions and special instruments in order to remove the tumor. However, whether a patient chooses to undergo open thoracic surgery or laparoscopic surgery may not be the same for different patients. Though nowadays, laparoscopic resection of esophageal cancer is widely used, open esophageal cancer resection still occupies a large proportion, and the surgical plan will be determined according to the location of the tumor, the size of the tumor, and the invasion of the tumor. Therefore, the specific choice of surgery should be decided according to the specific situation.