Abstract: Objective To investigate the clinical value of laparoscopic assisted transanal cylindrical resection in patients with low rectal cancer. Methods Total 56 patients with low rectal cancer in our hospital from September, 2014 to August, 2015 were selected as the research object and divided into observation group (n=26) and control group (n=30) according to the surgical methods. The observation group received laparoscopic assisted transanal cylindrical resection, while the control group received laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection. The operation time, blood loss, number of lymph nodes and drainage volume were compared between the two groups. The number of cases with positive resection margin and perforation in the two groups were recorded. All patients were followed up for 12 months; the incidence of complications (Presacral hematoma, urinary retention, and lower extremity venous thrombosis), relapse rate, and 1-year survival rate were compared between the two groups. Results The operation time[(179.38 ±28.17) min] in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group[(150.46 ±21.35) min], and the blood loss[(121.52 ±32.63) ml]was significantly lower than that of the control group[(172.41 ±43.17) ml], the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the number of lymph nodes and volume of drainage between the two groups (P>0.05). Positive circumferential resection margin (0%) and rectal perforation (0%) in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (20% and 23.33%), the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The incidence of complications in the observation group was 11.54% and in the control group was 13.33%, the 1-year survival rate in the observation group was 84.62% and in the control group was 76.67%, there was no significant difference (P>0.05). The relapse rate in the observation group (7.69%) was significantly lower than that of the control group (33.33%), the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion Laparoscopic assisted transanal cylindrical resection of rectal cancer can reduce the incidence of positive circumferential resection margin and rectal perforation, which is helpful to decrease the relapse rate of rectal cancer.