Between January 1982 and March 1990, 106 patients underwent restorative proctocolectomy in eight separate surgical departments. The indication for operation was ulcerative colitis in 86%, familial adenomatous polyposis in 12% and megacolon in 2%. The age at operation was 33 +/- 2 years (mean +/- sem) (range 15-55 years). There were no perioperative deaths. The principal causes of post-operative morbidity were intra-abdominal sepsis (15%), anastomotic stricture (10%) and intestinal obstruction (8%). Intestinal continuity has been restored in 99 patients. All were grossly continent, but 32% experienced occasional soiling. The mean stool frequency was 5/day and 1/night. The overall failure rate was 6%. Eighty-nine percent of patients were happy with the outcome. We conclude that restorative proctocolectomy is safe and provides acceptable functional results. It should be the operation of choice in most patients with ulcerative colitis or familial adenomatous polyposis.