AIM: To evaluate the feasibility of laparoscopic resection of rectal carcinoma and to compare the short-term outcome of laparoscopic procedure with conventional open surgery for rectal cancer.METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with rectal cancer were included in a prospective non-randomized study. The patients were assigned to laparoscopic (n=18) or open (n=18)colorectal resection. Case selection, surgical technique, and clinical and pathological results were reviewed.RESULTS: The operative time was longer in laparoscopic resection group (LAP) than in open resection group (189±18 min vs 146±22 min, P＜0.05). Intraoperative blood loss and postoperative complications were less in LAP resection group than in open resection group. An earlier ret of bowel motility was observed after laparoscopic surgery. The overall postoperative morbidity was 5.6% in the LAP resection group and 27.8% in open resection group (P＜0.05). No anastomotic leakage was found in both groups.The pathologic examination showed that the length of the resected specimen, the mean number of harvested lymph nodes in laparoscopic resection group were comparable to those in open resection group.CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (TME)for rectal cancer is a feasible but technically demanding procedure. The present study demonstrates the safety of the procedure, while oncologic results are comparable to the open surgery, with a favorable short-term outcome.