This study summarizes the clinical results after 61 operations including diverting stomas in 56 patients. 29 transverse colostomies and 32 loop ileostomies were constructed over a 2-year period. Two thirds of the operations were performed on acute indications. The patients were followed up with regard to closure rate and complications up until the end of 1985. Within this period there was a closure rate of 38% and a stoma-related complication rate of 21% without any significant difference between the two different groups of stomas. The complications following ileostomy appeared to be more serious than those after transverse colostomy.