Abstract:Objective To compare the safety in laparoscopic and traditional laparotomy for anus-preserving radical resection in low rectal cancer.Methods According to the established criteria, 13 literatures were screened to compare the safety of laparoscopic and laparotomy in anus-preserving treatment of low rectal cancer. Meta-analysis method was used to comprehensively analyze the relevant clinical indicators.Results The operation time in open surgery group was 16.86 min shorter than that in laparoscopic surgery group (MD = 16.86, 95% CI: 9.74~23.98, P = 0.000), and the intraoperative blood loss was 115.16 mL higher than that in LS group (MD = -115.16, 95%CI: -141.90~88.42, P = 0.000). There was no significant difference in the number of lymph nodes dissected between the two groups (MD = 0.03, 95%CI: -0.66~0.72, P = 0.930). The positive rate of circumferential margin cancer in laparoscopic surgery group was higher than that in open surgery group (O = 2.67, 95%CI: 1.07~6.68, P = 0.040). The incidence of incision-related complications in laparoscopic surgery group was smaller than that in open surgery group, the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (O = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.08~0.50, P = 0.001). In the incidence of anastomotic leakage, intestinal obstruction and urinary complications after operation between the two groups, the differences were not statistically significant (all P > 0.05). The first time of anal exhaust in laparoscopic surgery group was earlier than that in open surgery group (SMD =-1.61, 95%CI: -2.20~-1.01, P = 0.000) and the hospital stay in laparoscopic surgery group was 2.78 d less than that in open surgery group (MD = -2.78, 95%CI: -3.84~-1.71, P = 0.000). There was no significant difference in local recurrence rate and distant metastasis rate between the two groups (all P > 0.05).Conclusion Laparoscopic surgery in the anus-preserving surgery for low rectal cancer has less injury and faster recovery than open surgery. There was no significant difference between the two methods in safety.