Background/purpose: Although it is widely accepted that staplers are effective in reducing operating time, potential complications related to their use in the pediatric population are not well defined yet. The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety of mechanical suturing.
Methods: Between 1996 and 2001, 174 procedures were performed using circular staplers in gastrointestinal anastomosis, whereas linear staplers were used in gastrointestinal and lung resection. Intraoperative and early complications of each intervention were recorded.
Results: Overall, 12 complications occurred (6.9%). Two were caused by technical problems: In one case the stapler broke, in the other the anvil detached from the instrument shaft. Ten (5.7%) were major complications: 2 cases of leakage and 3 of bleeding in gastrointestinal procedures, and one case of bronchopleural fistula and 4 cases of bleeding during lung surgery. There was a significant correlation (P <.05) between type of stapler used and development of complications, suggesting a safer use of endoscopic staplers compared with conventional linear ones.
Conclusions: Mechanical suturing in children is not used frequently, but some procedures could be used more widely because they are fast and safe.