ABSTRACT:ObjectiveTo investigate the learning curve of subxiphoid approach in videoassisted thoracoscopic resection of anterior mediastinal tumor.MethodsRetrospective analyses were conducted on the clinical data of 33 patients with anterior mediastinal tumor or myasthenia gravis, which underwent subxiphoid approach in videoassisted thoracoscopic.The subjects were chronologically divided into three groups (group A, group B, and group C), with 11 cases in each group.The surgical duration, intraoperative blood loss, the rate of conversion to thoracotomy, complications, duration of hospital stay, and mediastinal drainage tube indwelling time were individually compared among the three groups.We then analyzed operational effects of different stages.ResultsThe clinical date including gender, age, complications, size, BMI(body mass index), mediastinal drainage, rate of conversion to thoracotomy, postoperative hospital stays, complications as well as mediastinum drainage tube indwelling time were all statistically not different among the three groups(P＞0.05).The operation time of group A was between 107 and 227 minutes (151.91±39.53 min), significantly longer than those of group B, which were between 70 and 150 minutes (97.91±19.36 min) and group C, which were between 55 and 100 minutes (77.27±10.88 min), P＜0.05.The intraoperative blood loss was significantly more in group A (10～100 mL, 39.09±26.25 mL) than in group B (3～40 mL, 20.73±12.28 mL) and group C (5～50 mL, 18.18±13.83 mL), P＜0.05.ConclusionFor surgeons with extensive experience in minimally invasive endoscopic techniques, the learning curve of subxiphoid approach in videoassisted thoracoscopic for the treatment of anterior mediastinal tumor is approximately 11 cases.