title: Complications of mechanical suturing in pediatric patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Giannina Gaslini Research Institute, University of Genova, Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Girolamo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mattioli
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castagnetti
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Repetto
authors.forename: Samuele
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leggio
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jasonni
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D008297:Male; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D017792:Surgical Stapling / Q000009:adverse effects*