THE APPLICATION OF STAPLERS IN THE UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL-TRACT

Mechanic or stapled anastomoses of hollow organs represent a safe and attractive alternative to the manual suture. The rate of complications for the duodenal stump closure by linear staplers is minimal with lea kages below 1%; the same is true for the jejunum. In esophagogastrosto mies which are often performed cervically, the stapler offers more saf ety compared to manual sutures, but the rate of stenoses is higher wit h about 15%. Stenoses have been observed especially with smaller magaz ines (25 mm diameter). For esophagojejunostomies safety is much greate r with mechanic staplers than with manual sutures. Only most experienc ed surgeons would achieve the same results with the same low rate of l eakages of less than 10%; stenoses do not have clinical relevance.