AIM:To evaluate the feasibility of laparoscopic resectionof rectal carcinoma and to compare the short-term outcomeof laparoscopic procedure with conventional open surgeryfor rectal cancer.METHODS:Thirty-eight patients with rectal cancer wereincluded in a prospective non-randomized study.The patientswere assigned to laparoscopic (n=18) or open (n=18)colorectal resection.Case selection,surgical technique,andclinical and pathological results were reviewed.RESULTS:The operative time was longer in laparoscopicresection group (LAP) than in open resection group(189±18 min vs 146±22 min,P7<0.05).Intraoperative bloodLoss and postoperative complications were less in LAPresection group than in open resection group.An earlierreturn of bowel motility was observed after laparoscopicsurgery.The overall postoperative morbidity was 5.6% inthe LAP resection group and 27.8% in open resection group(P<0.05).No anastomotic leakage was found in both groups.The pathologic examination showed that the length of theresected specimen,the mean number of harvested lymphnodes in laparoscopic resection group were comparable tothose in open resection group.CONCLUSION:Laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (TME)for rectal cancer is a feasible but technically demandingprocedure.The present study demonstrates the safety ofthe procedure,while oncologic results are comparable tothe open surgery,with a favorable short-term outcome. AIM: To evaluate the feasibility of laparoscopic resection of rectal carcinoma and to compare the short-term outcome of laparoscopic procedure with conventional open surgery for rectal cancer. METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with rectal cancer wereincluded in a prospective non-randomized study. Patients were assigned to The results of laparoscopic (n = 18) or open (n = 18) colorectal resection. Case selection, surgical technique, and clinical and pathological results were reviewed .RESULTS: The operative time was longer in laparoscopic resection group (LAP) than in open resection group 18 min vs 146 ± 22 min, P7 <0.05) .Intraoperative blood Los and postoperative complications were less in LAPresection group than in open resection group. An earlier return of bowel motility was observed after laparoscopicsurgery.The overall postoperative morbidity was 5.6% inthe LAP resection group and 27.8% in open resection group (P <0.05) .No anastomotic leakage was found in both groups.The pathologic examination showed that the length of theresected specimen, the mean number of harvested lymphnodes in laparoscopic resection group were comparable tothose in open resection group. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (TME) for rectal cancer is a feasible but technically demanding procedure. The present study demonstrates the safety of the procedure, while oncologic results are comparable tothe open surgery, with a favorable short-term outcome.