ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy, safety, and feasibility of fecal drainage technique on rectal anastomosis for preventing anastomotic leakage after operation for middle-low rectal cancer.MethodsThe retrospective analysis was used to collect the middle-low rectal cancer which completed operation in this hospital from 2014 to 2019. According to the way of preventing annstomotic leakage, the patients were divided into two groups: fecal drainage on rectal anastomosis group (Abbreviation: fecal drainage group) and end ileum prophylactic stoma group (Abbreviation: ileostomy group). The incidence of anastomotic leakage after operation and the different treatment methods following leakage were compared between the two groups.ResultsA total of 231 cases were recorded, including 84 cases in the fecal drainage group, 147 cases in the ileostomy group. There were no significant differences in the baseline data such as the gender, age, preoperative complications, operation mode, etc. between the two groups (P>0.050). There were no significant differences in the operation time, intraoperative blood loss, incision infection, postoperative intestinal obstruction, total hospitalization cost, death, anastomotic leakage (overall, each grade, treatment, and outcome) between the two groups (P>0.050). Although the length of hospital stay except the patients with anastomotic leakage in the fecal drainage group was significantly longer than that in the ileostomy group (P<0.001), there was no significant difference in the total length of hospital stay between the two groups (P>0.050), and the incidence of anastomotic stenosis in the fecal drainage group was significantly lower than that in the ileostomy group (P=0.029).ConclusionAccording to the results of this study, fecal drainage technique on rectal anastomosis is effective, safe, and feasible in preventing anastomotic leakage after operation for middle-low rectal cancer.