Objective To observe effects of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) technique on stress indicators in patients undergoing laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery. Methods One hundred and twenty patients underwent laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery (Dixon) in the Xinqiao Hospital of the Third Military Medical University were included in this study and then were randomly divided into an ERAS group (n=60) and a conventional treatment group (n=60). The patients in the ERAS group were treated with an ERAS concept during the perioperative period. The patients in the conventional treatment group were treated with a traditional treatment concept during the perioperative period. The stress indicators including white blood cell count (WBC) and C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin (IL)-6 levels were compared in the two groups at admission, 1 h before operation, and 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h after operation. The first postoperative anal exhaust time, the first postoperative defecation time, the total hospitalization time, and readmission rate were also recorded after operation. Results ① The age, gender, tumor diameter, and TNM stage had no significant differences in these two groups (P>0.05). ② There were no significant differences in the WBC, CRP and IL-6 levels at admission and 1 h before operation between the two groups (P>0.05). The levels of CRP, IL-6, and WBC in the ERAS group were significantly lower than those in the conventional treatment group at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after operation (P<0.05). ③ The first postoperative anal exhaust time, the first postoperative defecation time, and the total hospitalization time in the ERAS group were significantly shorter than those in the conventional treatment group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in readmission rate between the two groups (P<0.05). Conclusion ERAS concept is helpful in reducing stress response and could promote earlier recovery of patients with rectal cancer.