Retrospective analysis of the treatment of 3,080 patients with cancer of the large intestine made it possible to distinguish compensated, sub- and decompensated degrees of the neoplastic stenosis and place the two last named into the category of a complicated course of cancer. In subcompensated stenosis (complications in 16.3% of cases, mortality 5.9%), irrespective of the location of the tumor, the authors consider one-stage intervention with primary restoration of the continuity of the intestine to be the operation of choice. In decompensated stenosis (complications 28.9%, mortality 13.2%) caused by tumors of the right colon and the rectum they recommend a similar policy, while in tumors of the left colon they believe Hartmann's operation to be indicated.