ObjectiveTo evaluate the safety and clinical effect of laparoscopic Miles and perineal anal recon-struction operation for patients with low rectal cancer. MethodsOne hundred and two patients underwent Mile's and perineal anal reconstruction operation for rectal cancer in this hospital from April 2006 to February 2010 were analyzed retrospectively, in which 58 patients underwent laparoscopic surgery (laparoscope group) and 44 patients underwent open surgery (laparotomy group).All these data such as the survival time, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, harvested lymph nodes, the first anal exhaust time and liquid diet recovery time after operation, postoperative hospitalization, and postoperative complications were collected and compared between the laparoscope group and laparotomy group. ResultsThe demography and clinicopathologic characteristics were similar between these two groups (P > 0.05).The operation was successfully performed in all the patients.There was no death associated with the operation.Compared with the laparotomy group, the intraoperative blood loss was less (P < 0.05), the first anal exhaust time and liquid diet recovery time after operation, postoperative hospitalization were shorter (P < 0.05), the harvested lymph node was more (P < 0.05) in the laparoscope group.There were no significant differences in the operative time, postoperative complications, and the survival curves between the two groups (P > 0.05). ConclusionsThe clinical effects of laparoscopic and open Miles and perineal anal reconstruction operation are similar for patients with low rectal cancer.But laparoscopic operation is a safe, feasible choice with quicker recover after the operation.