Objective  To study the effect of double thoracic and mediastinal drainage after esophagectomy based on single esophageal bed drainage tube on postoperative recovery of esophageal cancer patients.

  Methods  A total of 100 cases with transabdominal right thoracic esophagectomy or video assisted thoracic esophagectomy in our department were selected. The patients with single mediastinal drainage was set as observation group, and those with double tube drainage was set as control group, with 50 cases in each group. Postoperative pain score and residual pleural effusion were observed.

  Results  All cases were discharged successfully after operation. There was no significant difference between the two groups in postoperative residual pleural effusion, and the pain score at 4 d in the study group(P>0.05), but the pain score at 2, 3 d was lower than the control group(P < 0.05).

  Conclusion  There is no significant difference in the drainage of pleural effusion between two groups after esophagectomy. But the single mediastinal drainage has lower early postoperative pain score, and is helpful for patients to get out of bed and effectively cough in early stage.