The need for protective transverse colostomy in low anterior resection using the EEA stapler was tested in a randomized series of 50 patients, half of whom received peroperative protective colostomy. Gastrografin enema on the tenth postoperative day showed a leakage frequency of 30 per cent in both groups. Clinical leakage was noted in 4 per cent (one patient) in the colostomy group and 12 per cent (three patients) in the noncolostomy group. Protective colostomy was followed by stenosis in nine instances, compared with only two in the noncolostomy group (2 alpha = 0.05). Routine protective colostomy should not be used in low anterior resection when the EEA stapling instrument is used. The occasional clinical leakage, which may appear in the postoperative period, can be revealed by close observation and successfully treated by an emergency colostomy. The majority of patients with anterior resection of the rectum, therefore, can be spared the inconvenience and cost of temporary colostomy.