ObjectiveTo evaluate the value of real-time indocyanine green fluorescence imaging navigation (ICG-FIN) in laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery. MethodsThe patients who adopted ICG-FIN during laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery in the Department of Anorectal Surgery of Xuzhou Central Hospital from April 2022 to June 2023 according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria (ICG-FIN group) were collected, meanwhile matching (1∶1) of patients who did not adopt ICG-FIN during laparoscopic surgery from January 2021 to May 2022 (control group). The general data, surgical conditions, intraoperative and postoperative outcomes between the two groups were compared. ResultsThere were 62 patients in the ICG-FIN group and 62 patients in the control group. There were no statistical differences in the gender, age, body mass index, comorbidities, and so on between the two groups (P>0.05). The tumor localization, lymph node tracing, fluorescence imaging of the intended resection of intestinal tract and anastomotic site were observed in the ICG-FIN group. Seven patients (11.3%) had changed in the intended resection of intestinal anastomotic line during surgery, while there were no changes of the surgical plan in the control group. There were no statistical differences (P>0.05) in terms of surgical method, operative time, intraoperative bleeding, proportion of ileostomy, time of the first postoperative exhaust, postoperative hospital stay, and incidence of short-term complications between the two groups. Compared with the control group, the incidence of anastomotic leakage was lower (P=0.012), and the number of lymph nodes cleaned was more (P=0.016) in the ICG-FIN group. However, there was no statistical difference in the number of positive lymph nodes detected between the two groups (P=0.343). ConclusionsAccording to the results of this study, ICG-FIN is a reliable and effective method during laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery, which can accurately localize tumor, trace and guide lymph node dissection. Real-time evaluation of intestinal blood flow perfusion is of great practical value in reducing anastomotic leakage.