ObjectiveTo explore the efficacy of da Vinci robotic surgical system-assisted radical resection of rectal cancer. MethodsThe clinical data of 456 patients who received radical resection of rectal cancer by the da Vinci robotic surgical system at the Southwest Hospital from March 2010 to March 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Operative time, operative blood loss, number of harvested lymph nodes, hospital stay, and morbidity were evaluated. Resultsda Vinci robotic surgical system-assisted radical resection of rectal cancer were successfully carried out in 445 patients, and other 11 patients were converted to open surgery (2.4%). Of 456 patients, 322 patients underwent anterior resection of rectum procedure (70.6%), 126 patients underwent abdominoperineal excision procedure (27.6%), 8 patients underwent Hartmann procedure (1.8%). The mean operative time was (192±60) min, the mean operative blood loss was (110±93) mL, the mean number of harvested lymph nodes were 19±6, the mean length between distal resection margin and tumor were (3.5±1.8) cm, the mean time for patients taking normal activity was (2.9±1.5) d, the mean time of passage of the first flatus was (2.7±1.7) d, the mean hospital stay was (7.1±1.6) d. Surgical complications occurred in 40 patients (8.8%), and all the patients were recovery before leaving hospital. The mean follow-up time was 29.1-month (3-75 months). There were 70 patients suffered from occurrence or metastasis (16.2%), and 60 patients died (13.9%). Conclusionda Vinci robotic surgical system-assisted radical resection for rectal cancer is a feasible and safe surgical procedure with the minimal trauma, fast recovery, and satisfactory clinical efficacy.