We evaluated 120 pituitary operations performed at Hospital Universitario Clementino Fraga Filho of the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro from 1979 to July 1998 with the aim of analysing the immediate post operative morbidity and mortality. The ages ranged from 15 to 70 years and the clinical diagnoses were: nonsecreting adenomas, 46 (38.34%); acromegaly, 30 (25%); prolactinomas, 29 (24.16%) and Cushing's disease 15 (12.5%). The main endocrine complications were: panhypopituitarism, 16 (13.34%); diabetes insipidus, 15 (12.5%) and adrenocortical insufficiency, 4 (3.34%). Neurological complications: infection, 13 (10.84%); and cerebrospinal fluid leakage, 6 (5%). Two patients died. Our results agree with those of the international literature. We identified a progressive decrease of morbidity and mortality due to surgeon's skill increase and to the uniformity of the clinical team which managed those patients.