One thousand four hundred and fifty-four cases of operations for gastric carcinoma in this hospital from 1983 to 1994 are reviewed. 121 out of 1454 patients sustained 168 occurrences of early postoperative complications. The patiets involvement rate was 8.32% and the occurrence rate of complications was 11.55%. Complications could be divided into two groups, the general complication after surery (8.25%) and complication relavent to gastrointestinal reconstruction (3.30%). Most common complications were wound infection, pulmonary infection, anastomotic obstruction or leakage. The authors stress the prevention of surgical complications that would furhter improve the therapeutic result of gastric cancer.