The morbidity and mortality in right hemicolectomy for carcinoma of the colon is examined, with particular attention to the influence of emergency surgery and advanced disease. Of the 244 patients who had surgery, 57 required emergency surgery and 187 elective surgery. The overall mortality was 5.7% with no difference statistically between the elective and emergency groups. Anastomotic complications were significantly greater in the groups undergoing emergency resection and elective palliative surgery when compared with elective curative surgery. All patients with advanced disease had a higher morbidity and mortality, both in elective and emergency surgery. The factors most important in relation to mortality and morbidity were thus advanced disease, advanced age and cardiorespiratory complications. This being the case, it is felt that the present management of emergency right hemicolectomy with anastomosis should continue to be the treatment of choice for obstructing or perforated carcinomas of the right colon.