Is Staple LRE to Prevent Post-Operative Staple Line Leak and Haemorrhage after Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

Background: Staple line haemorrhage and leak are considered to be common complications of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Some strongly recommend staple line reinforcement to deal with these complications while some consider it non beneficial. Aim: To analyze if staple line reinforcement is essential to prevent staple line haemorrhage and leaks. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in Surgical unit 1 Fatima Memorial Hospital. A total of 100 patients were selected and divided into two groups of 50 each. Group 1 had staple line reinforced while group 2 had no reinforcement at all. All patients were observed for 24-48 hours for post-operative bleeding and leak. Results: Staple line leakage was found to be 4% in patients with staple line reinforcement whereas it was 6% in patients without staple line reinforcement with a p value of 0.284 which was not significant. Likewise, staple line bleeding in both groups were 2% and 6% with p value of 0.129 which was also insignificant. Conclusion: There is no added benefit to reinforce the staple line to prevent postoperative leak or bleeding but reinforcement only prolongs the operation time. Keywords: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, leak, post-operative bleeding, staple line reinforcement

Staple line reinforcement to reduce leakage in open surgery for Zenker's diverticulum? A case report and literature review

A linear stapler was used to reduce the leakage rate during a Zenker’s diverticulum diverticulectomy. However, staple line reinforcement was not used, and leakage occurred. The efficacy of staple line reinforcement in the literature was unclear; however, reinforcement may be necessary for Zenker’s diverticulum cases.

Comparison of bursting pressure on sleeve gastrectomy staple lines between stapling, buttressing, and oversewing

Backgrounds. One of the major complications after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is represented by leaks along the staple line. Several reinforcement techniques have been proposed, but scarce data about the real strengthening offered are present. Thus, we aimed to evaluate if different reinforcements produced different bursting pressures after LSG, and then to verify if the clinical application of the stronger reinforcement produced a reduction in leakage rate. Methods. We prospectively enrolled all consecutive obese patients that underwent LSG. We tested 3 different types of staple lines, as follows: group 1, no reinforcement; group 2, bioabsorbable buttress reinforcement; group 3, invaginating overrunning barbed suture. A burst pressure test was applied to the gastric specimen by means of high-resolution manometric catheter. After burst pressure tests, a subsequent consecutive series of patients were treated with the most effective reinforcement, and rate of leaks was recorded. Results. We enrolled in total 110 obese patients; 20 patients for each group of staple line reinforcement and then other 50 consecutive patients underwent LSG with the higher burst pressure staple line reinforcement. Median burst pressures were similar in group 1 and group 2; group 3 showed a statistically significant pressure increase ( P < .0001) than group 1 and group 2, with a 5.2-fold value. Other consecutive 50 obese patients underwent LSG with overrunning reinforcement. In none of them a leak was detected. Conclusions. Reinforcement of the SG staple line, with overrunning suture, seems to drastically increase bursting pressures in an ex vivo model and it is promising when reproduced in vivo.