Three-dimensional vs two-dimensional video assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy for patients with esophageal cancer

Table 3 Surgical recovery indicators

	3D-VATE (%)n = 45	2D-VATE (%)n = 48	P value
Thoracoscopic operating time1 (min)	68 ± 13.79	83 ± 13	< 0.01
Operating time2 (min)	138 ± 14	167 ± 20	< 0.01
Bleeding (mL)	68.2 ± 10.7	89.8 ± 10.4	< 0.01
Chest drains (mL)	306.6 ± 56.2	366.4 ± 62.6	< 0.01
Chest tube duration (d)	2.67 ± 1.01	3.75 ± 1.15	< 0.01
Length of stay (d)	9.07 ± 2.00	10.85 ± 3.40	0.003
Expenses (RMB)	74968.4 ± 9637.8	86211.1 ± 8519.7	< 0.01

¹Thoracoscopic operating time refers to the resection time;

²Operating time is the time from skin incision to the final skin closure. VATE: Video-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy; 3D: Three-dimensional; 2D: Two-dimensional.