Rectal cancer is a common malignant tumor in China, and radical surgical resection is the only effective treatment at present. The traditional surgical treatment is open resection and lymph node dissection, which has such disadvantages as large trauma, slow recovery and many complications. Compared with traditional surgery, laparoscopic radical surgery has the advantages of small abdominal incision, fine surgical operation, less interference with gastrointestinal tract, clear vision, less bleeding, less extrusion of tumor during surgery, fast postoperative recovery, less postoperative intestinal adhesions and light postoperative pain. The key to the effect of laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery is that the principle of tumor-free malignant tumor must be observed. Due to the enlargement of laparoscopic field of view, the anatomical structure is easier to recognize and the tissue gap is easier to find, and the possibility of tumor cell detachment is reduced by less squeezing and pulling on the tumor; the anterior sacral nerve, seminal vesicles, vaginal rectal gap and prostatic rectal gap which are not easily revealed by traditional open surgery can be clearly revealed, which is helpful to reduce unnecessary injury and bleeding. The scope of resection and lymph node dissection are the main factors for complete radical treatment of malignant tumors. Lacy et al. showed that for patients with stage I and II rectal cancer, there was no difference between the laparoscopic surgery group and the traditional open surgery group. For stage III cases, the 5-year postoperative survival rate was significantly higher in the laparoscopic surgery group than in the traditional open surgery group. In 2006, the Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Surgery Group of the Surgery Branch of the Chinese Medical Association and the Laparoscopic Surgery Group of the Colorectal Cancer Specialty Committee of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association jointly formulated the operating guidelines for laparoscopic radical rectal cancer surgery, which stipulates the basic principles of laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery. It is believed that with further recognition and research, laparoscopic radical rectal cancer surgery will become the gold standard for this disease, like laparoscopic cholecystectomy.