Although minimally invasive surgery has almost become the standard surgical approach for rectal cancer, it still fails to reduce the risk of anastomotic leakage after operation compared with open approaches. Anastomotic leakage is still one of the main complications after rectal surgery, which influences the oncological outcome and life quality of patients. Anastomotic leakage is the challenge for colorectal surgeons. It has always been a hot topic for colorectal surgeons whether to choose the traditional open surgery or the minimally invasive way for the treatment of anastomotic leakage that requires surgical intervention. This article aimed to describe the current status and progress of minimally invasive surgery for anastomotic leakage after minimally invasive rectal cancer surgery, and to discuss its feasibility and safety, hoping to provide reference for future clinical practices and clinical researches.