A study was undertaken to evaluate the postoperative morbidity of classical cesarean section (CCS). Eighty-nine such procedures, performed between 1970 and 1977, were reviewed. All cases in which prophylactic antibiotics were used were excluded from the study. Forty-seven patients (53%) developed standared morbidity, and 46 patients (52%) had a clinical diagnosis of infection. Of these, 30 patients (34%) had endoparametritis, 5 patients (6%) had abdominal wound infection, and 11 patients (12%) had urinary tract or pulmonary infection. Two patients (2%) had pelvic thrombophlebitis, but no patient was found to have an abscess or pelvic hematoma. In comparison with matched patients who had a low cervical transverse cesarean section (LCTCS) performed during the same time, patients with a CCS had a comparable incidence of standard morbidity and operative site infection. These infections responded promptly to vigorous antibiotic therapy with no apparent increased risk of major postoperative complications in the population studied.