Objective To study the sugical treatment of elderly patients with acute intestinal ob-struction caused by colorectal cancer. Methods The clinical data of 56 elderly patients of acute colonic ob-struction caused by colorectal cancer from Janury 2002 to Janury 2007 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 20 cases with right side coloniclesion,32 cases with left side coloniclesion and 4 cases with rectal lesion. All patients received emergency operation. One stage tumor resection and anastomosis was performed in 20 cases with right side coloniclesion and in 25 cases with left side coloniclesion,Hartmann operation in 4 cases,proximal colostomy in 3 cases were performed with left side coloniclesion. Dixon operation in 2 cases and proximal colostomy in 3 cases were performed with rectum cancer. Results Postoperative complications occurred in 18 cases,including wound infection,intraperitoneal sepsis and intestinal fistula. Fifty-five cases recovered,there was one perioperative death. Conclusions Positive operation should be taken when the diagnosis of acute obstructing colorectal cancer the elderly is made. The operative methods depended on the patient'conditions. The perioperative managment should be emphasized and selection of rational operation procedure is important for decreasing mortality and complications of acute obstructing colorectal cancer in the elderly.