Jejuno-ileal diverticular disease should be included in the differential diagnosis when dealing with surgical emergencies in the elderly presenting with features of bowel perforation, obstruction or bleeding.

Lower limb skin grafts are thought to have higher failure rates than skin grafts in other sites of the body. Currently, there is a paucity of literature on specific factors associated with lower limb skin graft failure. We present a series of 70 lower limb skin grafts in 50 patients with outcomes at 6 weeks. One-third of lower limb skin grafts went on to fail with increased BMI, peripheral vascular disease, and immunosuppressant medication use identified as significant risk factors.

The ASA, timing and duration of surgery were the most significant factors affecting patient outcome. Age had a less important effect. Arranged surgery and short operative duration have a favourable outcome in selected elderly patients. Therefore, the elderly should not be denied indicated major abdominal surgery on basis of age alone.

Delay from the time of testicular pain until surgical exploration is important for the chances of testicular salvage and is made up mostly of pre-hospital delays. Patients under the age of 14 had longer delays pre-hospital.

ERCP can be safely and successfully performed in a provincial centre.