Surgical staples are widely used in the medical field to close several wounds during surgery. A surgical stapler is used to secure them in place. The staples can be made of an alloy, making them unsuitable for patients with metal allergies. However, there are alternatives, such as plastic staples. Since staples are quicker and can provide a more reliable and consistent result than sutures, they are often used instead of sutures.

The different types of surgical staplers

Surgical staplers are used in various surgeries and designed for removing a portion of an organ, cutting through an organ or tissue, or linking structures. The stapler body, a staple cartridge/reload with lines of staplers, an anvil, and a firing system make up a surgical stapler.

Before inserting the tissue to be attached between the stapler jaws, the surgeon inserts a staple cartridge into the skin stapler. They then trigger the firing device, which fires a staple into the desired location. Some staplers have a knife that cuts tissue when the stapler gets used.

Surgical staplers have allowed for the creation of more advanced surgical techniques while also reducing the time spent performing surgery. They come in a variety of sizes and models to make them more convenient to use. When necessary, surgical staple removers may get used to removing the staples.

In gastrointestinal, thoracic, and paediatric surgery and gynaecology, linear cutting staplers get used to resect and transect organs and tissues. They have a knife assembled into the stapler body for cutting and joining tissues and organs, making them ideal for anastomosis.

A circular stapler gets used in various surgical procedures, including general surgery, thoracic surgery, bariatric surgery, and colorectal surgery. They allow for end-to-end, side-to-end, and side-to-side anastomoses and, as the name implies, position staples in a circular shape made up of two concentric circles.

Laparoscopic staples have been developed specifically for use in laparoscopic surgery. They are longer and thinner than circular staples, allowing them to be manipulated more effectively via trocar ports and used for end-to-side anastomosis. They get used for various procedures, including liver resection, cancer kidney removal, and gastroplasty surgery.

The skin stapler and clips are of stainless steel, but Titanium staples are not entirely titanium. Nickel is present in a particular proportion of surgical staples. It means that before undergoing surgery, it should get known if a patient has a nickel sensitivity and if so, any potential side effects should be addressed with their surgeon.

Surgical staplers get used for a variety of purposes in addition to surgery. They can get used to close wounds on the outside as well.