Disposable vs. Reusable Surgical Stapler: Which to Choose?
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), surgical staplers are needed to close surgical cuts or large wounds affecting a patient’s skin or scalp. These are preferred over suturing, the conventionally used method, because of their quick placement, minimal tissue reaction, strong wound closure, and low risk of infection after the procedure. Owing to their extensive usage, surgical staplers are available in both disposable and reusable forms.
Surgical staplers are suitable for the management of head injuries
In this article, we will go through disposable and reusable surgical staplers and learn how to pick the one that is most suitable for a surgical procedure. In addition, some of the well-known surgical stapler brands have also been linked for the reader’s convenience.
What are Surgical Staplers?
As the name suggests, surgical staplers are specialized medical tools used during surgery to close the incision or open wounds. They can be used on the skin as well as inside the body for the ligation of tissues. In particular, they are employed to conduct resection (surgical removal of a tissue or organ), transection (cutting across a structure), as well as creating anastomoses (connecting two structures).
Disposable Surgical Staplers
Disposable surgical staplers are single-use medical instruments that are employed only once for a single patient only. These are easy-to-use and lightweight devices that are easy to handle as well. Each disposable stapler comes in a sterile packaging that maximizes patient safety as the device is not exposed to the environment until the time of its use.
Pros
- All the disposable surgical staplers come pre-sterilized and individually packed, leading to a reduced risk of infection among the patients.
- As disposable surgical staplers are used only once, there is no need to clean and sterilize them after every use. This way, the healthcare team gets to save a lot of time.
- Because disposable surgical staplers come in ready-to-use form, there is no need to prepare them before the procedure.
Cons
- As a disposable surgical stapler is only suitable for one-time use, a new product needs to be purchased for every procedure. This way, the overall cost of the surgery increases.
- Being constructed from plastic, disposable surgical staplers are added to the hospital waste. This further leads to an elevated burden on the environment, as their disposal is not easy.
Reusable Surgical Staplers
Reusable surgical staplers, as the name suggests, are wound-closing instruments that can be reused for multiple procedures with proper sterilization after every usage. These are often durable, as stainless steel is the material of choice for their construction.
Pros
- Despite their higher initial cost, reusable surgical staplers are an economical option given the number of surgeries they can be used for.
- As reusable surgical staplers are durable and last longer, they serve best when used in high-volume surgical environments.
- Because reusable surgical staplers are not disposed of after a single use, they are environment friendly products that help reduce the overall carbon emissions.
Cons
- As reusable surgical staplers need cleaning and sterilization after every employment, the time and cost of these processes are considered one of their limitations.
- With extensive use, reusable surgical staplers can wear and tear, resulting in unreliable performance. This can be prevented with proper device maintenance. However, if the product has gone through significant degradation, there is a need for replacement.
Stapling of surgical incisions also helps reduce blood loss
Disposable vs. Reusable Surgical Staplers: Which is the Best Choice?
When it comes to choosing between a disposable and reusable surgical stapler, there is a need to evaluate all the pros and cons of both devices. In addition, the surgeon also checks the type of wound that needs to be stapled. In this regard, the following factors should be kept in mind:
Versatility and Usage
The primary concern while choosing between a disposable and reusable surgical stapler is the type of procedure to be conducted. As reusable surgical staplers are designed in a way to tackle multiple medical situations, they can be employed in general surgery, orthopedic procedures, as well as gynecological departments, among others.
However, in most cases, a disposable surgical stapler is designed to conduct only one type of medical procedure. This feature limits their use in different kinds of surgeries.
Risk of Infection
If the wounded area is at a higher risk of getting infected, it is better to choose disposable surgical staplers. This is because the device is sterile and comes pre-packed in individualized packaging that is recommended to be opened at the time of use. On the contrary, reusable staplers can become the cause of infection transfer if not thoroughly cleaned and sterilized.
Training and Familiarity
As reusable surgical staplers are employed again and again, the surgical team becomes familiar with the product. This training comes in handy as the staff becomes proficient in their use that leads to a better performance during surgery. However, with disposable staplers, an initial unfamiliarity of the surgical team can either hinder the overall performance of the device or extend the time of the surgery.
Cost Considerations
If the overall cost of the surgery is a concern, it is better to opt for a reusable option. This is because, in some cases, a single surgical procedure requires the use of multiple disposable staplers, leading to a significant addition in the procedural cost. Therefore, reusable staplers prove to be a more economical option.
Suturing is the conventional but time-consuming method of wound closure
Surgical Staplers at Health Supply 770: Features and Specifications
Surgical staplers are medical devices that are designed to connect and hold the edges of an incision or an open wound until healing is complete. These are easy-to-use, lightweight instruments that are portable as well. Surgeons prefer them over the conventional suturing method because of being time-saving and quick.
However, when it comes to learning about surgical staplers, it is also essential to look into some of the products that many brands manufacture. Some of these well-known surgical staplers are also available at Health Supply 770 and have been detailed below, along with their features and purchase links:
ETHICON TX30G – Precision Surgical Stapler
ETHICON TX30G – Precision Surgical Stapler
Product Details
ETHICON TX30G – Precision surgical staplers are the surgical products that are employed to achieve wound closure and promote healing in a shorter time. As the product is reliable in performance and highly efficient, it is frequently employed within healthcare facilities to conduct a wide range of medical procedures.
Moreover, as the construction material of these ETHICON TX30G – Precision surgical staplers includes medical-grade alloys and polymers, their durability and longevity are guaranteed. In addition, the device puts a firm yet optimal pressure on the affected tissues to ensure their proper closure without letting them become too loose or too pressurized to get even more damaged.
Furthermore, these ETHICON TX30G – Precision surgical staplers have compatibility with the standard ETHICON reloads. These are easy-to-use when employed during a surgical procedure and portable owing to their lighter weight. Keeping these features in mind, these surgical staplers are often preferred by surgeons for conducting general surgery for wound closure, gynecological surgeries, gastrointestinal procedures, as well as specialized procedures requiring secure stapling.
ETHICON GST45G – Premium Precision Surgical Stapler
Product Details
ETHICON GST45G – Premium Precision surgical staplers are wound closure products that are known for effectively restricting the flow of blood from the wound, rendering them one of the essential items in surgery. As they are constructed using premium stainless steel, there is little to no risk of inflammation or irritation around the closed tissues due to the high tissue compatibility of the product.
Moreover, these ETHICON GST45G – Premium Precision surgical staplers come with 45 mm-long staples with a capacity of 12 clips per strip. When it comes to firing the staples, the process can be done single-handedly as the device allows one-hand operation. This way, the surgeon enjoys more freedom during the procedure. As for their applications, these Maxi Articulating staplers are ideal for thoracic and gastric surgeries, allowing rapid and secure anastomoses.
In addition, several other procedures, including lung resection, lobectomy in thoracic surgery, gastric bypass, and gastric stapling in bariatric and general surgeries, as well as for securing and dividing tissues in complex endoscopic surgeries, can also be conducted using these ETHICON GST45G – Premium Precision surgical staplers.
COVIDIEN EGIA45AVM – Premium Endoscopic Stapler with Tri Staple™
Product Details
COVIDIEN EGIA45AVM – Premium endoscopic staplers with tri staples are the products that have been designed to perform minimally invasive surgeries. The device allows adjustability during the procedures that leads to better wound closure and faster healing owing to its Tri Staple technology. Being constructed using titanium, the staplers are compatible with the skin and tissues.
Moreover, these COVIDIEN EGIA45AVM – Premium endoscopic staplers with tri staples allow visibility and maneuverability when employed in narrow surgical spaces. That’s why they are also used for passing through trocar cannulas. As for the grip, the product is easy to handle with minimal risk of slippage.
Furthermore, these COVIDIEN EGIA45AVM – Premium endoscopic staplers with tri staples come with a 45 mm staple line that offers multiple height options. Resultantly, a tailored management of different tissue thicknesses becomes possible.
Considering their exceptional features, these COVIDIEN EGIA45AVM – Premium endoscopic staplers with tri staples are widely employed for resection, transection, and creation of anastomoses during minimally invasive surgeries, including bariatric, gastrointestinal, and thoracic procedures.
ConMed 803590 Reflex Regular One Skin Stapler 35R BNS 50/CS
Product Details
ConMed 803590 Reflex Regular One skin staplers are the products that are employed to deal with wounds affecting the skin. As they can manage high-strain wounds, their use in emergency situations becomes necessary to close the wounds rapidly, while reducing the blood flow.
Moreover, these ConMed 803590 Reflex Regular One skin staplers come in different sizes to allow the surgeon to choose a suitable product depending upon the procedure. With each product, 35 stainless steel staples are provided. The visible staple counter has been incorporated into the ergonomic design of the product to indicate how many staples are left.
Furthermore, these ConMed 803590 Reflex Regular One skin staplers are disposable products that are for single-patient use only. This way, patient-to-patient infection transfer is effectively managed. In addition, the audible click and tactile reinforcements indicate that the fired staple has been properly placed in the skin.
Surgical procedures require suturing or stapling to close the incisions
The products linked in the article, while learning about surgical staplers, along with many other medical supplies, can be purchased from Health Supply 770, a reliable name when it comes to medical products. They have a 30-day money-back guarantee and provide your products to you in the shortest possible time. Click the link at the end of the article to check the wide range of surgical products.
Conclusion
Surgical staplers are the medical tools needed for stapling the open ends of a wound or an incision with the aim of promoting healing. These are available in different types, some of which are disposable, while others are reusable products. Between these two, a choice needs to be made by the surgeon to select the most suitable product for a particular surgery.
In this regard, disposable staplers pose minimal risk of infection at the site of injury but have a higher overall cost. On the other hand, reusable staplers last for longer and can be used in more than one kind of surgery, but are expensive. In addition, they also require proper cleaning and sterilization after every use that adds to their maintenance cost. In summary, both products have their pros and cons, and the choice needs to be made by the surgeon after considering all the factors.
Considering their importance, surgical staplers are, therefore, needed within all the relevant healthcare facilities to facilitate different surgical procedures. For purchasing different kinds of medical devices, including surgical staplers, reliable vendors like Health Supply 770 should be approached. They ensure the provision of quality products along with satisfactory services.
References
