Aim: The aim of this study was to compare rectal cancer patients who underwent open and laparoscopic surgery in terms of their short-term surgical and oncological outcomes. Material and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated data of 71 patients with mid and low rectal cancer who underwent elective curative laparoscopic and open total mesorectal excision between January 2017 and December 2019. Results: The operative time was longer ( 192 min. vs 173 min., p=0.059), the estimated blood loss was less (75 ml vs 150 ml, p=0,03), and the length of incision was obviously shorter in the laparoscopy group ( 5 cm vs 18 cm, p=0.01). There was no mortality in any of the groups. The overall morbidity rate was 25% in the open group and 17.94% in the laparoscopy group (p=0.469). Revision surgery was needed in 9.38% of the patients in the open group, 12.8% in the laparoscopy group (p=0.648). In the laparoscopy group, the cause of revision surgery was anastomotic leak for all patients. The median lymph node number was higher in the laparoscopy group. There was no significant difference in terms of surgical margins, surgical methods, time of initiation of oral intake and first flatus, and hospital stay. During the follow-up period, 2 patients (6.25%) in the open group had a local recurrence, and five patients (12.8%) in the laparoscopy group had distant metastasis. Discussion: Laparoscopic surgery is a safe and effective method that can be used in the treatment of mid-low rectal cancer.