Objective To compare efficacy of laparoscopic and open duodenal circular drainage operation for superior mesenteric artery compressing syndrome (SMACS). Methods From December 2012 to December 2015, the clinical data of 23 cases of laparoscopic duodenal circular drainage operation (laparoscope group) and 28 cases of open duodenal circular drainage operation (open group) were analyzed. The operation time, intraoperative bleeding, postoperative ambulation time, postoperative analgesics usage, postoperative the first exhaust time, postoperative the first feeding time, postoperative hospitalization time and postoperative incidence of complications were compared. The patients were followed up to confirm the effect after the operation. Results There were no differences of the age, sex, and body weight index between the laparoscope group and the open group (P>0.05). The operation time had no significant difference between these two groups (P>0.05). Compared with the open group, the intraoperative bleeding was less (P<0.05), the postoperative ambulation time, postoperative the first exhaust time, postoperative the first feeding time, postoperative hospitalization time were shorter (P<0.05), the rates of postoperative analgesics usage, incision infection, pulmonary infection, and intestinal obstruction were lower (P<0.05) in the laparoscope group. The rates of anastomotic leakage and anastomotic bleeding, and total postoperative complications rate had no significant differences between these two groups (P>0.05). All the patients were followed up for 8–36 months. The clinical symptoms disappeared and the body weight increased to normal level in the two groups. Conclusions Preliminary results of in this study show that laparoscopic duodenal circular drainage operation in treatment of SMACS has some advantages such as less trauma, faster recovery, fewer complications and shorter hospitalization time. Laparoscopy will be an ideal choice for treatment of SMACS.