Objective:To explore the protective effect of nerve plane-oriented laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (NPO+ LTME) for postoperative urinary and sexual function in patients with rectal cancer.Methods:Retrospective analysis was performed on rectal cancer patients who received surgical treatment at Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from Jan 2016 to Dec 2018, including 114 patients in the NPO+ LTME group and 92 patients in the laparoscopic TME combined with pelvic autonomic nerve preservation (LTME+ PANP) group. Surgical and tumor-related indicators were recorded and compared between the two groups, and postoperative urination and sexual function were followed up.Results:There was no significant difference in baseline indicators between the two groups ( P>0.05). The operative time of the two groups was (150±7) min and (154±7) min, respectively ( t=3.585, P<0.05). Intraoperative bleeding was (9±3) ml and (15±6) ml ( t=7.654, P<0.05), respectively.Three months after surgery, the rate of urinary dysfunction in the NPO+ LTME group was lower than that in the LTME+ PANP group ( Z=2.549, P<0.05), but there was no difference between the two groups 6 and 12 months after surgery ( Z=0.814, P>0.05 and Z=1.275, P>0.05). At 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery, the erectile function in NPO+ LTME group was better than that in LTME+ PANP group ( Z=4.917, P<0.05; Z=4.947, P<0.05 and Z=4.081, P<0.05); The rate of ejaculation dysfunction was also lower than that of the LTME+ PANP group ( Z=4.464, P<0.05; Z=4.948, P<0.05 and Z=4.434, P<0.05); In addition, postoperative female sexual function was superior to LTME+ PANP group ( Z=2.532, P<0.05; Z=2.364, P<0.05; Z=2.076, P<0.05). Conclusion:NPO+ LTME has good surgical safety and also has certain advantages for patient sexual function and early urinary function protection.