Objective To explore the difference between laparoscopic assisted operation and traditional open operation in the treatment of rectal cancer. Methods A retrospective analysis in 297 patients with rectal cancer was carried out. The patients were divided into laparoscopic group (129 cases) and laparotomy group (168 cases) based on the operation mode. Follow up examination after operation were compared between the two groups, The basic situation of the operation such as operation time, amount of bleeding, hospitalization time and the amount of lymph node dissection were followed up. The one year and three years of long term effect such as the local recurrence rate, distant metastasis rate, survival rate and disease free survival rate were compared between two groups. Results The hemorrhage and hospitalization time in laparoscopic operation group were superior to those in laparotomy group (P<0.05), but there were no significantly difference on operation time and the amount of lymph node dissection between two groups (P>0.05). There were no significant difference on long term curative effect of recurrence rate, metastasis rate, survival rate, tumor free survival rate between two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion The laparoscopic radical resection of rectal carcinoma operation has the advantage in the near future effect and long-term therapeutic effect, and can achieve the same effect with open operation. It does not increase the rate of recurrence and metastasis of rectal cancer, and worthy of promotion.