Factors considered contraindications in cases of laparoscopic resection for colon cancer surgery include advanced invasion to the other organs, bowel obstruction that cannot be decompressed, and larger-sized tumour; however, it is difficult to determine the contraindications for laparoscopic surgery noninvasively. An eventual adaptation of laparoscopic surgery should be determined based on intraoperative laparoscopic findings.

Contraindications in cases of laparoscopic resection of the rectum (Laparoscopic low anterior resection [LapLAR] and laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection [LapAPR]) are advanced invasion to other organs with an insufficient circumferential resection margin (CMR), bowel obstruction that cannot be decompressed, and a larger-sized tumour in the pelvic space. Judgment relative to operative indications for laparoscopic resection of the rectum is determined based on many preoperative modalities including computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and rectal endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS). If the lower rectal cancer is in the advanced stage, preoperative chemoradiotherapy should be selected. Cases that are considered lateral lymph node-positive or having advanced lymph node metastasis are not indicated for immediate laparoscopic resection of the rectum but for chemotherapy and/or chemoradiotherapy.