Objective: To investigate the efficacy of using band lifting method (lifting the rectal canal with a band) in laparoscopy-assisted anterior resection for mid- and low-rectal cancer. Methods: The clinical data of 73 patients undergoing laparoscopy-assisted anterior resection for mid- and low-rectal cancer (Dixon surgery) from April 2016 to April 2017 in the Department of General Surgery of Anhui Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. Of the patients, 31 cases underwent laparoscopy- assisted Dixon surgery using band lifting method (bowel lifting group) and 42 cases underwent conventional laparoscopy- assisted Dixon surgery (conventional group). The main clinical variables between the two groups of patients were compared. Results: The preoperative data between the two groups of patients were comparable. In bowel lifting group compared with conventional group, no significant difference was found in terms of intraoperative blood loss, number of prophylactic ileostomy, positive rate of rectal balloon expulsion test, time to postoperative gas passage, time to postoperative liquid intake, length of postoperative hospital stay, incidence of anastomotic fistula and overall complications, and postoperative pathology (all P>0.05), while as for other aspects, except the prolonged operative time (192 min vs. 169 min), all the variables that included the median number of laparoscopic stapler cartridge used (1 vs. 2), proportion of anastomotic reinforcement requirement (3.2% vs. 19.0%), division and closure of the intestinal canal (80.6% vs. 28.6%) and medical cost (38 200 yuan vs. 41 300 yuan) were showed significant superiority (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Band lifting is an effective measure for assisting laparoscopy-assisted anterior resection for mid- and low-rectal cancer.