AbstractThe procedure and some problems of abdominoperineal excision are briefly outlined. Despite the advances in surgery and anesthesiology, survival has not improved in the last 30 years, and an overall 5‐year survival of about 30–35% is probably a reasonable estimate. However, the local extent of the tumor has proven to be a very good prognostic index as regards survival frequency, with patients whose tumors are Dukes' stage A having an almost 100% corrected 5‐year survival rate. A relatively high frequency of local recurrence has been noted after local curative operations for rectal cancer, the frequency usually being about 30–60% in unselected patient materials.