One-stage subtotal colectomy of an acutely obstructed colon would improve quality of life while shortening the length of hospitalization. Prohibitive surgical risks, though, are commonly ascribed to such an approach. Analyzing the senior author’s experience we compared the one-stage approach versus multistaged resection concerning operative mortality and morbidity rates and the duration of hospital stay. Forty-nine out of 291 (17%) large bowel cancer patients presented with acute left-sided obstruction requiring emergency surgery. Colostomy alone was performed in 18 (37%), multistaged colectomy in 20 (41 %, group A) and one-stage subtotal colectomy in 11 (22%, group B), from January 1973 through September 1990. Both groups were comparable regarding age and sex distribution, TNM staging and ASA classification. Operative mortality and morbidity rates were 10 and 30% in group A and 9 and 18% in group B, respectively. The average length of hospital stay was more than twice the number of days in group A. Whenever an experienced surgical team is available and in the absence of contraindications (local factors precluding a swift dissection, hemodynamic instability, gangrenous bowel) a one-stage subtotal colectomy, taking advantage of a better healing ileo-low-sigmoid anastomosis, carries acceptable mortality and morbidity risks while enhancing the quality of life and shortening the length of hospitalization. It should be considered the procedure of choice, provided selection requirements and technical demands are met.