The cancellation of surgery creates untold hardship for patients who plan their working and family lives around the proposed operation date. Most are cancelled at less than 24 hours notice. The cost implications to the community are immense but have not been calculated. The separation of emergency and planned surgery is essential through adequate observation ward access.

Excision and primary closure of chronic pilonidal sinus has low recurrence rate with early return to activities. Primary closure appears to be a cost-effective option for uncomplicated pilonidal sinus disease.

The authors report the case of a 47-year-old man who suffered a diving accident. After regaining consciousness he experienced severe headache. He was initially treated for barotrauma, but the persistent headache led to diagnostic imaging that revealed an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of a ruptured brain aneurysm associated with barotrauma.

The introduction of optimized organ programs for the upper and lower cervical spine based on the 12-bit data of the images should improve the evaluation of the lateral radiograph of the cervical spine without reducing the latitude value.