Objective To explore the risk factors and prevention measures for anastomotic leakage after rectal radical resection.Methods The clinical data of 404 patients with rectal radical resection were analyzed retrospectively and the risk factors for anastomotic leakage were analyzed.Results Thirty-one patients (7.67％,31/404) were subjected to anastomotic leakage.The mean leakage time was 6.5 (3-14) d postoperatively.The muhivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that preoperative hemoglobin (OR =3.023,95％ CI:1.101-8.303,P=0.031 8),tumor size (OR =2.543,95％ CI:1.075-6.018,P=0.033 7) and tumor distance from anal verge (OR =3.160,95％ CI:1.387-7.199,P=0.006 2) were the risk factors for anastomotic leakage.Conclusions Preoperative hemoglobin,tumor size and tumor distance from anal verge are significant factors for anastomotic leakage.Therefore correction of anemia,improvement of surgical technique and suitable use of preventive diversion stoma ane all benefit for prevention of anastomotic leakage after rectal radical resection.