Abstract: Objective To discuss the safety, feasibility and clinical effectiveness of 3D laparoscopic radical rectectomy for rectal cancer with left colic artery preserved. Methods Clinical data about 115 patients who had undergone routine 3D laparoscopic recectomy in Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2015 to January 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into observation group (55 cases with left colic artery preserved) and control group (60 cases without left colic artery preserved). Results There was no significant difference in basic characteristics such as age and sex, operating time (124.4±8.5) min vs(120.4±9.5) min, P=0.061, blood loss (54.9±20.7) ml vs (53.4±18.2) ml, P=0.752 and the number of harvested lymph nodes(34.7±8.2) vs (24.2±8.1), P=0.288. However, the time to pass gas (2.9±0.4) d vs (3.5±0.5) d, P=0.038, time to take liquid food (45.8±5.3) h vs (52.4±7.5) h, P=0.001, and length of hospital stay (7.1±2.2) d vs (11.4±2.7) d, P< 0.001 of observation group were significantly less than those of control group. Prophylactic ileostomy was performed to 2 cases in observation group and 7 cases in control group. After operation, anastomotic leakage occurred in 2 cases in observation group and 3 cases in control group. Conclusion Patients with rectal cancer who have