Laparoscopic-assisted resection of right-sided colonic cancer has the advantage over open surgery in allowing earlier recovery. However this is at the expense of a longer operating time and higher direct cost (registration number: NCT00485316 ( http://www.clinicaltrials.gov )).

Telerobotic surgery is the most advanced development in the field of minimally invasive surgery. The da Vinci surgical system, which is currently the most widely used telerobotic device, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration of the United States of America for clinical use in all abdominal operations in July 2000. The first da Vinci surgical system in China was installed in November 2005 at our institution. We herein report the first telerobotic-assisted laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection using the 3-arm da Vinci surgical system for low rectal cancer in Hong Kong and China, which was performed in August 2006. The operative time and blood loss were 240 min and 200 mL, respectively. There was no complication, and the patient was discharged on postoperative day five. An updated review of published literature on telerobotic-assisted colorectal surgery is included in this report, with special emphasis on its advantages and limitations.

Go‐karting is one of the famous sporting activities in Hong Kong and southern China. Go‐karting is easily accessible to the general public and almost everyone can enjoy the excitement of the sport. Although karting has always been claimed to be safe, the risks and injuries of this fun sport should not be overlooked. From May 2001 to February 2004, we observed three serious intra‐abdominal injuries with go karts in the North District Hospital of Hong Kong. The injuries included hemoperitoneum caused by omental vessel tear, peritonitis caused by perforation of duodenojejunal flexure and peritonitis caused by perforation in the duodenum associated with liver laceration. A high index of clinical suspicion is essential in encountering such cases, as potential life‐threatening complications can occur.

No abstract