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On the basis of three case reports some aspects of diverticulitis of the caecum and ascending colon are discussed. The surgical treatment of congenital diverticula (mostly situated in the caecum) with inflammation should be as conservative as possible to minimize the risk of postoperative complications. Our two patients I and 2 with diverticulitis of the caecum were both treated by ileocaecal resection; possibly in case I diverticulectomy alone would have been sufficient. Patient 3 was treated by right hemicolectomy for a condition residual to (peri)diverticulitis of the ascending colon. In all three cases the postoperative course was uneventful.

The results of surgical common bile duct exploration in 1007 patients were evaluated in a retrospective study. Overall mortality was 2%. Under the age of 70 years mortality was 0.9%. Mortality increased significantly in patients older than 80 years (9.5%), including the patients with acute cholangitis. The most frequently encountered complications were wound infection in 7%, severe pulmonary insufficiency in 4%, and cardiovascular problems in 3%. The results of the present series show that in the current state of pre-, intra- and postoperative care surgical common bile-duct exploration has a low morbidity and mortality rate in patients under 80 years of age.