OBJECTIVE To investigate the high risk factors and prognostic factors of bowel metastasis and obstruction in the patients with late stage ovarian cancer by analyzing the clinical characteristics and to find out appropriate methods to solve this difficult problem. METHODS 151 cases with ovarian cancer in stages I and IV who received the treatment from January 1, 1988 to December 31, 1992 were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS Operative residues, diffuse bowel metastasis, small intestinal involvement and papillary serous cystadenocarcinoma were found to be high risk factors for bowel obstruction. Age, duration between operation and obstruction, level of CA125 at occurrence of obstruction, numbers of operation and the histologic grade were disclosed as prognostic factors. The prognosis was much worse if the score is more than 6. CONCLUSIONS Due attention paid to the high risk factors and the prognostic factors should be emphasized to improve the quality of life and the survival rate.