Inclusion Criteria:  Patients over 18 years old Informed consent Diagnosed with rectal cancer located below the peritoneal reflection, defined by preoperative MRI Open, laparoscopic, robotic or Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision (taTME) approaches Patients with/without derivative stoma Patients with/without neoadjuvant treatment  Exclusion Criteria:  Upper rectal cancer, located above the peritoneal reflection Previous radical prostatectomy Previous pelvic radiotherapy Rectal resection without primary anastomosis Intraoperative findings of peritoneal carcinomatosis Stage IV disease Multivisceral or en-bloc resection, which includes uterus, prostate, vagina or bladder Rectal resection due to a benign condition Rectal resection due to a recurrence of rectal cancer (previous anterior resection or another primary neoplasm) Rectal resection following a 'watch & wait' program Emergency surgery Previous derivative colostomy Inflammatory bowel disease