Analysis of 186 combined resections and extirpations of the rectum for primary carcinoma, among which 31 were palliative operations, showed that the indications for them are limited with age from 21.7% in the young to 12.8% in patients over 60 years of age. Combined interventions were carried out irrespective of the site of the tumor in the rectum. Morphological verification of growth of the tumor into other organs in 32.3% of patients who had been operated on merely points to the expediency of a combined operation excluding ungrounded refusal of treatment. Combined operations failed to lead to an increase in postoperative mortality, which was 5.4%, and produce favourable late-term results--54.5 +/- 4.3% of patients have a survival period of 5 years.