Perioperative morbidity and mortality were studied in 116 patients who underwent radical hysterectomy and lymph node dissection. Type II radical hysterectomy was performed in two, type III in 97, type IV in 12 and type V in five patients, and the perioperative morbidity was assessed accordingly. Because of the short follow-up time the late sequelae could not be evaluated. There was no operative death. Haemorrhage was the most common complication and it was more frequent and serious in type IV and V classes. Prolonged bladder atony was also frequent, particularly in type IV radical hysterectomy. The infection rate was comparable. One patient developed ureteric fistula, and one woman had ureteric stricture. Lymphocyst formation, nerve damage, lymphoedema and thromboembolic disease were rarely encountered and there was no bowel obstruction. Injury to the great vessels was a major problem. It appears that the rate of complications in this study is acceptable and comparable with or favourable to other reported series. In spite of this, every effort should be made to reduce the operative morbidity as far as possible.