title: The use of staplers in equine intestinal surgery.
abstract: Automatic suturing instruments were tested in two ponies and two horses. The TA stapler was used for bowel closure (enterotomies and gut transection) and for end-to-end 'triangulation' anastomoses. The GIA stapler was used for making side-to-side anastomoses. In one horse several enterotomies were made at different stages and the results of suturing by hand and with a stapler were compared. The utility of both types of staplers is discussed in relation to clinical evaluations and macroscopical and microscopical findings post mortem.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006736:Horses / Q000601:surgery*; D007422:Intestines / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013528:Surgical Staplers / Q000662:veterinary*