Objective To investigate the factors affecting the occurrence of anastomotic fistula after laparoscopic anterior resection for colorectal cancer.Method The clinical data of 780 cases of patients with laparoscopic anterior resection for colorectal cancer were analyzed the relationship between anastomotic fistula and the factors of gender

age

preoperative serum albumin

diabetes

tumor location

tumor size and pathological type and stage to observe the effect of anastomotic fistula after preventive colostomy.Results 48 cases had anastomotic fistula after their operation and the incidence was 6.2%.Gender and tumor location affected the incidence of anastomotic fistula（χ2=12.96

P<0.05;χ2=9.38

P<0.05）and the remaining factors did not significantly affect the incidence of anastomotic fistula.The incidence of anastomotic fistula in male patients with low tumor locations and high-risk individuals with preventive colostomy was 4.2%

its incidence in patients with no preventive colostomy was 17.5%and the difference was statistically significant（χ2=4.21

P<0.05）.Conclusion Male and distance of cancer from the anal edge less than 7centimeters are high-risk factors for anastomotic fistula and preventive colostomy can reduce the risk of anastomotic fistula after laparoscopic anterior resection for colorectal cancer.