ObjectiveTo evaluate the safety and short-term outcome of laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (TME) for the middle-lower rectal cancer in municipal hospital.MethodsThe pathological data of 94 patients with middle-lower rectal cancer (49 cases underwent laparoscopic TME, while 45 cases received open TME), who treated in The First People’s Hospital of Ziyang from Jan. 2015 to Jun. 2017, were retrospectively collected and analyzed.ResultsTwo patients (4.1%) in laparoscopy group were converted to open surgery. Compared with the laparotomy group, the laparoscopic group had significantly less volume of intraoperative bleeding, shorter abdominal incision, earlier time to the first flatus and liquid diet, and lower rate of 30-day postoperative complication (P<0.05), but had longer operative time (P=0.033). While there were no significant difference on postoperative stay, the specimen length, distal margin, and number of harvested lymph nodes between the 2 groups (P>0.05).ConclusionLaparoscopic TME is a feasible, safe, and minimally invasive technique for middle-lower rectal cancer, and produce more favourable short-term outcome than open surgery in municipal hospital.