Objective To explore the application value of loop ileostomy in low rectal cancer surgery. Methods A total of 104 patients with rectal cancer who underwent preventive stoma and were admitted to the hospital from February 2017 to April 2020 were enrolled as the research objects, including 69 cases who underwent loop ileostomy of terminal ileum (loop ileostomy group) and 35 cases who underwent spontaneously closed ileostomy (spontaneously closed ileostomy group). The data such as operation time, blood loss, recovery time of intestinal function, hospitalization time and hospitalization cost were collected. The short-term and long-term complications after surgery were collected. Results There were no significant differences in operating time, blood loss and recovery time of intestinal function between the two groups (P＞0.05). The postoperative hospitalization time in loop ileostomy group was longer than that in spontaneously closed ileostomy group, and hospitalization cost was more than that in spontaneously closed ileostomy group (P＜0.05). There were no significant differences in short-term and long-term complications between the two groups (P＞0.05). Conclusion Compared with loop ileostomy, spontaneously closed ileostomy can avoid second-stage temporary stoma-closure surgery, shorten postoperative recovery time, and reduce hospitalization cost.