摘要: 1 Introduction The feasibility of colon resection using the laparoscope was demonstrated as early as 19911～3. It was shown one year later that it is also possible to use the laparoscope in abdominoperineal resection of the rectum for rectal carcinoma4, 5. One year after this, the first study was reported in which the results of anterior resection with the laparoscope were compared with the conventional operation in a small number of patients with carcinoma of the rectum6. The first reports on the feasibility of total excision of the mesorectum in patients with carcinoma of the middle or lower third of the rectum were first published at the start of this century7～9. It can be stated in summary that resection of the colon or rectum using the laparoscope is not of disadvantage to the patient, given that the surgeon has appropriate experience and the patient has been properly selected.