Abstract:Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of transanal local resection combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy with linear cutting stapler in the treatment of stage T2N0M0 low rectal cancer. Methods The clinical data of 57 patients with stage T2N0M0 low rectal cancer treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University from February 2017 to February 2019 were retrospectively analyzed, and they were divided into two groups according to different surgical methods: transanal local resection combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy group (TAE group, 27 cases) and traditional radical surgery group (RS group, 30 cases). The general data, operation related indexes, Wexner score and QLQ-C30 score, postoperative complications and follow-up outcomes were compared between two groups. Results The operation time, postoperative hospitalization days and intraoperative bleeding volume in TAE group were significantly lower than those in RS group (P＜0.05). The postoperative Wexner score of TAE group was significantly lower than that in RS group (2.10±1.40 vs 6.60±2.10, t =9.041, P＜0.01). QLQ-C30 score in TAE group was significantly higher than that in RS group (90.31±3.32 vs 71.59±6.35, t =13.716, P＜0.01). The incidence of complications in TAE group decreased compared to RS group without significant difference (3.70% vs 23.33%, P＞0.05). Both groups were followed up for 3 years or more, with only 1 recurrence in TAE group and no recurrence in RS group. Conclusion The use of linear cutting stapler for transanal local resection combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy for low rectal cancer can shorten the operation time and postoperative hospital stay, reduce intraoperative bleeding, improve the postoperative defecation and the quality of life of patients, and it does not increase the long-term recurrence rate.