During a three-year period, 30 patients had emergency Hartmann procedures for diverticular disease (N = 12), carcinoma (N = 6), trauma (N = 3), and miscellaneous causes (N = 9). Two patients died postoperatively (6.7 percent) and wound infection developed in 60 percent of the patients. Planned relaparotomies for severe intra-abdominal infection were performed in ten patients (an average of 2.5 procedures per patient) with no mortality. In five cases a mucous fistula was converted into a Hartmann pouch; a preference for the Hartmann pouch in patients undergoing repeated explorations is discussed. Colorectal continuity was subsequently restored in 23 patients (76.6 percent).