The authors report the results of 59 caesarean operations in which 74 children were born before the end of the 32nd week of amenorrhoea. The gross mortality was 21.9% and the corrected mortality 18.5%. 7.9% of the infants had major neurological sequellae and 8.6% mild sequellae. 65.2% are alive and well with normal psychomotor development. The follow-up has been between 1 and 5 years. The factors that influence survival and the indications for caesarean section at this time are reviewed and discussed.