Stapler Use in the Operating Room: Safety and Technique Guide

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 51.4 million inpatient surgical procedures are conducted in the US every year. Among many of them, surgical staplers are used to close the open wounds. As the method is quick and easy, it is often preferred over the conventional suturing technique. However, certain safety techniques must be followed.

Staplers are a quick and easy way to close the open wounds

In this article, we will go through surgical staplers and their use in operating rooms. In addition, some of the well-known surgical stapler brands have also been linked for the reader’s convenience.

What are Surgical Staplers?

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), surgical staplers are specialized medical instruments designed for stapling the internal body tissues during surgery with the aim to close wounds. These are especially used for resection (surgical removal of a tissue or organ), transection (cutting across a structure), as well as creating anastomoses (connecting two structures).

Advantages of Surgical Staplers

Surgical staplers, when used during different surgical procedures, provide several advantages, such as:

Using a surgical stapler significantly increases the speed of tissue closing as compared to the traditional suturing process, which is slow and, therefore, takes a lot of time.
Surgical staplers ensure a reliable connection between the tissues as they prevent any leaks at the tissue joints.
With the use of surgical staplers, tissues take less time to heal, primarily due to the reduced risk of infections.
Being a versatile technique, this method of stapling the tissues can be employed during a wide range of procedures, including open surgery, laparoscopy, etc.

Surgical Staplers in the OR: Safety Considerations

While using surgical staplers, it is important to look into the safety considerations regarding their employment. This way, their employment process can be made error-free, and the risk of mishaps can be avoided. Some of these safety measures have been covered as follows:

Proper Usage Training

The first thing that can lead to an improper use of surgical staplers is little to no familiarity of the surgical staff with the product. This becomes important not only when the device is new but also when the manufacturer changes, as it often leads to some modifications in the usage process. Therefore, the surgical staff must be trained properly before handling the staplers.

Assessment of the Tissues

The use of surgical staplers is not suitable when the tissues are damaged, necrotic, or have edema around them. This is because in such cases, the risk of bleeding, leakage, or separation of the wounded tissues is extremely high. Therefore, proper inspection of the tissues before using staplers is necessary.

Awareness of Possible Adverse Events and Contingency Planning

In case of a fail during the surgery, there is a need to act immediately to prevent further damage. For this purpose, surgical teams always have a backup plan. In the case of surgical staplers, issues like device malfunction or hemorrhage can occur. Therefore, the surgical team must be trained to handle the situation. Easy access to clamps, sutures, or spare staplers must also be ensured.

Suturing of the tissues after incision helps close the wounds effectively

Suturing is the traditional way of wound closing, but it takes more time

Surgical Staplers in the OR: Technique Guide

Once the surgical team has been made familiar with the device and possible malfunctions, the next step is to learn about the correct usage technique. Here are some tips regarding the proper use of surgical staplers in the OR:

Choose the Right Stapler

The first step is to choose the right kind of surgical stapler depending upon the nature of the wound as well as the thickness of the affected tissue. As staplers come in different forms, like linear, circular, etc., selecting the right one will maximize the safety of the procedure. In addition, choosing the correct size and color of the stapler is also a major concern. This is because different colors represent the suitability of the stapler based on tissue thickness.

Clean the Wounded Area

Once a suitable surgical stapler has been selected, the next step is to clean the target area to prepare it for the procedure. This helps minimize the presence of microbes around the area, leading to a reduced risk of infections. For this purpose, alcohol-based antiseptic solutions are employed. Moreover, if the area is hairy, hair removal may be necessary as it can interfere with the procedure.

Proper Positioning is Important

Now, when the device and patient are ready, there is a need to position the surgical stapler over the target tissue in a way that it aligns with the edges of the wound. To do so, the stapler should be held gently but firmly. Then, the nosepiece or center mark of the stapler should be placed directly over the center of the wound margins, while making sure that the device is perpendicular to the long axis of the incision line.

Tissue Eversion and Gentle Compression

With the help of a surgical stapler, gently compress the tissues in a way that moderate pressure is applied on the area. While doing so, make sure that the edges of the wound are in a state of eversion, i.e., outside instead of being folded on the inside. This is important because inverted wound edges lead to poor healing and prominent scarring.

To achieve this position, using toothed forceps to hold the wound edges is recommended. Keep in mind that excessive pressure can cause further damage by crushing the tissue, leading to a state of ischemia or low blood flow in the area.

Activation/Firing of the Surgical Stapler

Once tissue eversion and proper device positioning have been achieved, it is time to squeeze the firing handle or trigger firmly to deploy the U-shaped staples. This will lead to their penetration deep into tissues.

Staple Verification

When the staples are in place, inspect the line to confirm that all the staples are in ‘B’ shape and evenly placed. There should be no bleeding around the area or any misfires.

Using Surgical Staplers in the OR: Tips

Now that we have looked into the right technique and safety measures while using surgical staplers, let us dive into some of the tips that should be kept in mind during the process:

Avoid using the wrong stapler size as it can lead to bleeding, leakages, or tissue necrosis.
If the staples are not properly aligned, there is a risk of incomplete wound closure.
Surgical staplers, if fired multiple times, can lead to overlapping staple lines. This can lead to an elevated risk of post-procedural complications.
To avoid tissue damage, never forcefully insert or extract the staplers.

Most surgeries require closing of the open wounds to promote healing

Surgical Staplers at Health Supply 770: Features and Specifications

Surgical staplers are medical tools used for closing open wounds within the body. These are employed on the tissues to staple them together and are, therefore, an easier alternative to sutures. However, the right stapler is chosen depending upon the type of tissue to be stapled as well as its thickness.

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

Product Details

ETHICON TX30G – Precision surgical staplers are employed for closing the open wounds and secure them until healing is complete. The product is known for its reliability and efficiency during multiple kinds of medical procedures in clinical settings.

Moreover, these ETHICON TX30G – Precision surgical staplers are constructed using medical-grade alloy and polymer that are strong and durable and, therefore, impart longer life to the product. The device has been designed for optimal tissue compression so that it neither keeps the wound edges lose nor pressurize them too strongly, leading to further damage.

Furthermore, these ETHICON TX30G – Precision surgical staplers are compatible with the standard ETHICON reloads. It is easy to handle design and the lighter weight renders the product handy and portable. As for their applications, these ETHICON TX30G – Precision surgical staplers are considered ideal for general surgery for wound closure, gastrointestinal procedures, gynecological surgeries, as well as specialized procedures requiring secure stapling.

ETHICON GST45G – Premium Precision Surgical Stapler

Product Details

ETHICON GST45G – Premium Precision surgical staplers are reliable and precise products in homeostasis, rendering them essential for surgeries. Designed while keeping the patient’s safety as a primary concern, the construction material is premium stainless steel that is known for high tissue compatibility, along with minimal risk of inflammation.

Moreover, these ETHICON GST45G – Premium Precision surgical staplers also allow one-handed operation, allowing single-handed firing. The device has a capacity of applying 12 clips per strip. The length of the staples is approximately 45 mm. When it comes to their applications, these Maxi Articulating staplers are ideal for thoracic and gastric surgeries, allowing rapid and secure anastomoses.

In addition, these ETHICON GST45G – Premium Precision surgical staplers are also employed for 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.

COVIDIEN EGIA45AVM – Premium Endoscopic Stapler with Tri Staple™

Product Details

COVIDIEN EGIA45AVM – Premium endoscopic staplers with tri staple are products that allow secure and adjustable stapling, especially during minimally invasive surgeries. As the name suggests, Tri Staple technology in these specialized endoscopic staplers ensures that the titanium staplers firmly hold the open edges of the wound together, leading to faster healing.

Moreover, these COVIDIEN EGIA45AVM – Premium endoscopic staplers with tri staple are also capable of easily passing through trocar cannulas. This way, visibility and maneuverability in narrow surgical spaces can be maximized. The grip on the product is enhanced to allow smoother operation over repeated use.

Furthermore, these COVIDIEN EGIA45AVM – Premium endoscopic staplers with tri staple feature a 45 mm staple line with multiple height options. This feature allows tailored management of different tissue thicknesses.

When it comes to their use, these COVIDIEN EGIA45AVM – Premium endoscopic staplers with tri staple are suitable for resection, transection, and creation of anastomoses during minimally invasive surgeries, including bariatric, gastrointestinal, and thoracic procedures.

Open wounds can be easily sutured or stapled after a surgical procedure

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

In the US, numerous surgical procedures are conducted throughout the year, which involve stapling the open wounds. To do so, surgical staplers are employed as a way to achieve faster tissue ligation. In this regard, the proper method of wound stapling should be followed so that any complications during or after the procedure can be avoided.

This involves choosing the right kind of surgical stapler as they come in many different forms and have different suitabilities depending upon the type of affected tissues. In addition, practicing hygiene in the target area reduces the risk of infections. The staples should be applied firmly with the right amount of pressure in a straight line. Overall, the product makes the wound-closing process quick and easy and leads to a shorter healing time.

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.