Abstract: Objective To study the short-term efficacy and safety of laparoscopic radical surgery for different stages of colorectal cancer. Methods A total of 50 patients with colorectal cancer from March, 2012 to May, 2017 were randomly assigned observation group (25 cases) and control group (25 cases). The patients of the observation group underwent laparoscopic surgery, while the patients of the control group underwent open surgery. The amount of perioperative bleeding, the time to passing gas after surgery, the time to postoperative ambulation, and the complications such as intestinal obstruction, incision infection, urinary tract infection and anastomotic fistula were observed and compared between the two groups. Results The mean perioperative bleeding[(35.6±16.1) ml] of the observation group was less than that of the control group[(56.2±22.7) ml], the difference was statistical significance (P<0.05); the time to passing gas after surgery[(2.7±0.3)d] in the observation group was less than that in the control group (3.6±1.0)d, with statistical significance (P<0.05); the time to postoperative ambulation (10.8±2.5)d in the observation group was significantly less than the control group[(17.0±5.7)d], with statistical significance (P<0.05). The incidence of post-operative complication (6.0%) in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group (22.5%), the difference was statistical significance (P<0.05). Conclusion The laparoscopic radical surgery for the patients with early stage colorectal cancer is effective and safe. However, for patients with advanced stage, more work should be done such as careful preoperative assessment and detailed prepare and selecting suitable operative procedure, all of those could improve the effects of operations.