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Updated: Jul 18, 2026
Novel and Innovative Hybrid Technique for Type A Aortic Dissection
Published on: March 28, 2025
Intravascular stapler for "open" aortic surgery: preliminary results
E G Shifrin1, W S Moore, P R F Bell
1Department of Vascular Surgery, Assuta Hospital, Tel-Aviv, Israel. shifrin_e@yahoo.com
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a new stapling device using a pig model.
Methods:
Straight 12 mm Gore-Tex grafts were inserted end to end into the aorta of 12 pigs. One anastomosis was performed with the stapler and the other using 4/0 prolene sutures and 13 mm needles. The animals were sacrificed at one week, one and three months and all grafts underwent histological examination. Leakage from the anastomoses was assessed in a separate specially designed circulation model using saline as a perfusate.
Results:
The stapled anastomoses took 1.0+/-0.25 minutes to complete while suturing took 8.5+/-1.5 minutes. There was no difference in the histology between the two types of anastomosis. The leak rate was six times greater at the sutured compared to the stapled anastomosis.
Conclusion:
The use of stapled anastomoses may allow a significant shortening of aortic cross clamping time, reduce anastomotic leakage and may be particularly useful in laparoscopic aortic repair. A randomised trial is required to assess the efficacy of this device.
