title: Curved cutter stapler vs. linear stapler in rectal cancer surgery: a pilot prospective randomized study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to compare the safety and technical accessibility of linear stapler and curved cutter stapler (CCS) during mid to low rectal cancer surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between April and November 2006, 60 patients were randomly assigned to either linear staplers (DST TA; United States Surgical, Tyco Healthcare Group LP, Norwalk, CT) or the CCS (Contour Curved Cutter Stapler(R); Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., Cincinnati, OH) during low anterior resection for mid to low rectal cancers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in age, gender, body mass index, and mean carcinoembryonic antigen level between the two groups. Distal resection margin was longer in the CCS group as compared with the linear stapler group but did not reach statistical significance (24.7 vs. 20.8 mm, P = 0.065). There was no difference in the incidence of postoperative complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, both the CCS and linear staplers were satisfactory devices for securing the distal rectum during low anterior resection in mid to low rectal cancers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Gil Medical Center, Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Won-Suk
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Woo Yong
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ho-Kyung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.forename: Seong Hyeon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Yong Beom
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Hae-Ran
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Yun
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013528:Surgical Staplers