Abstract： Objective To find out whether laparoscopic assisted was better than open abdomino-perinea l resection for low rectal adenocarcinoma.Method Twenty-five (stu dy group) out of 59 consecutive patients who were considered su itable were selected for laparoscopic assisted abdomino-perineal resection. The y were compared with the other 34 patients operated by open method (control grou p).Results The median follow up time for the study and control groups were 30.1 and 28.3 months respectively. The operation time was significa ntly longer (t-test, P＜0.001),while the operative blood loss (Mann-Whitn ey U test, P=0.02),the postoperative analgesic requirement (Mann Whitney U test,P=0.02),the time to r esume normal diet (Mann-Whitney U test, P=0.04) and the total hospital stay (Mann-Whitney U test,P=0.02) were significanty less in the study than in t he control group. The oncological clearance, the complication rate, the disease free interval and survival were comparable in the two groups. Conclusion Laparoscopic assisted abdomino-perineal resection allowed earlier postoperative recovery, with comparable oncological clearance, morbidity, mortality, disease free interval and survival.