The true incidence of isolated lung without liver metastases in colorectal cancer is likely to lie between 1.7% and 7.2%. While the incidence of isolated lung metastases is twice as common in patients with rectal cancer, it is still significant in patients with colon cancer. The absence of liver involvement should not preclude a search for lung metastases.

The use of superselective mesenteric embolization for the treatment of lower GI bleeding is highly successful and relatively safe-97% technical success and 3% postembolization ischemia in our series. In 63% of cases it is definitive without any further intervention. Postembolization ischemia and surgery may be associated with a higher risk of anastomotic leak. Greater vigilance must be adopted in treating patients who have active hemorrhage from the small bowel and in those with a hematocrit

Acute sigmoid volvulus is a surgical emergency, although the majority (75%) can be successfully decompressed nonoperatively. Emergency surgery in these patients is associated with a mortality of 17.6% in our series. Elective definitive surgery is suggested in view of the high recurrence rate (>60%) and the considerable risks of emergency surgery.

Patients treated with a cyclo-oxygenase 2-specific inhibitor have a shorter recovery time when compared with patients on a standard postoperative PCA morphine-only regimen after colorectal resection.

Although TB is eminently treatable medically, surgery is still often required for suspected or confirmed abdominal TB presenting with acute complications or as atypical diagnostic problems. The role of laparoscopy is likely to be more significant in future in the management of abdominal TB.