It was performed a comparative analysis of parameters of early postoperative period in 318 patients with middle- and lower-ampullar cancer of rectum who underwent total mesorectumectomy and "blind" preparation of rectum. All patients were divided into 2 groups. The main group included 202 patients after total mesorectumectomy. The control group included 116 patients after "blind" preparation of rectum. Statistically significant differences in frequency of laparotomy wounds suppuration, urinary tract dysfunction and postoperative mortality were revealed. These complications were diagnosed more frequent in case of "blind" preparation of rectum. In the main group laparotomy wounds suppuration depended on sex (p<0.001, r=0.65), in the control group - on surgeon's experience (p=0.006, r=0.58), localization of tumor (p<0.001, r= -0.87) and type of surgery (p<0.001, r= -0.76). Urinary tract dysfunction after total mesorectumectomy depended on patient's sex (p<0.001, r=-0.77), after "blind" preparation of rectum - sex (p=0.002, r= -0.39) and performing of preoperative radiation therapy (p<0.001, r=0.46). In the main group none of the analyzed variables effected on the postoperative mortality. In the control group age (p=0.006, r=0.48), intraoperative blood loss (p=0.002, r=0.55), anastomosis failure (p=0.01, r=0.61), postoperative bleeding (p<0.001, r=0.88), early adhesive intestinal obstruction (p=0.006, r=0.77) effected on the mortality. It is considered that total mesorectumectomy in comparison with "blind" preparation of rectum decreases frequency of postoperative complications and mortality.