To make laparoscopic low rectal resection feasible and technically cor
rect, an articulating stapler made for open surgery was employed durin
g laparoscopic low rectal resection in two patients with rectal tumors
whose distal margins were located at 7 and 8 cm, respectively, from t
he dentate line. The problem with laparoscopic linear staplers is that
they do not allow transverse resection of low rectal tumors with a do
uble-stapling technique, placing the suture line in an exactly perpend
icular position to the rectum below the tumor. The use of this stapler
made for open surgery allows extension of the laparoscopic approach t
o low-lying rectal lesions following established surgical and oncologi
cal principles.