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A method that can measure surgical skill, based on the scoring of independent observers who view videotaped performances, seems to be reliable. MIST-VR did not improve the surgical skills of the subjects, but the results with MIST-VR did predict surgical outcome.

Factors affecting colectomy rate were studied in a retrospective population based series of 1586 patients with ulcerative colitis, in Stockholm County during 1955-84. Five hundred and sixty eight patients (36%) had total colitis at diagnosis, 603 patients (38%) left sided colitis, and 397 patients (25%) proctitis.

The management of Meckel's diverticulum (MD) incidentally detected in adults remains controversial. To assess the risk involved in excision of such diverticula and the incidence of complications arising from MD in adult life, we analysed 260 cases of MD found at laparotomy in a baseline population during a 15-year period. There were 148 symptomless and 112 symptom-producing diverticula, with intestinal obstruction as the most common complication. Assuming a 2 per cent general incidence of MD, the complication rate in these adult patients was 0.03 per cent per year. The calculated lifetime risk of complication from MD was 3.7 per cent at age 16 years, falling to zero in old age. Excision of an incidentally detected MD entailed a 6 per cent rate of major complications. Twenty-eight symptomless diverticula were not excised, and follow-up revealed no complications in these cases. In adults an incidentally discovered, symptomless Meckel's diverticulum should be left in place.