title: Safe and quick distal pancreatectomy using a staggered six-row stapler.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of stapling devices for distal pancreatectomy remains controversial, due to concerns about the development of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) and hemorrhage.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report herein the usefulness of the Endo SGIA stapler (Tyco Healthcare, Norwalk, CT) for distal pancreatectomy by placing 2 triple-staggered rows, ie, 6 rows of staples in the pancreatic stump. The pancreas was divided together with both the splenic artery and vein with Endo SGIA in 7 consecutive hand-assisted laparoscopic distal pancreatectomies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No patients developed clinically significant POPF or postoperative hemorrhage. None of the patients had complications that may have influenced the length of hospital stay.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 6-row Endo SGIA stapler allows quick and effective prevention of POPF after distal pancreatectomy.
authors: Department of Surgery, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. take-misawa@jikei.ac.jp
authors: Takeyuki
authors: T
authors: Misawa
authors: Hiroaki
authors: H
authors: Shiba
authors: Teruyuki
authors: T
authors: Usuba
authors: Takuya
authors: T
authors: Nojiri
authors: Tadashi
authors: T
authors: Uwagawa
authors: Yuichi
authors: Y
authors: Ishida
authors: Yuji
authors: Y
authors: Ishii
authors: Katsuhiko
authors: K
authors: Yanaga
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010180:Pancreatectomy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013528:Surgical Staplers; D017792:Surgical Stapling