The use of absorbable staples for construction of a bladder tube

Stapling instruments have been widely used in general surgery but not in the surgical treatment of the urinary tract. The stapler Poly CS-57 (Auto Suture, U. S. S. C.) with absorbable staples has been evaluated in the construction of ten bladder tubes for ureteral substitution in three dogs and six pigs. The dogs and pigs were sacrificed at two, three and six months. There was no mortality rate, no infections, no suture leakages and no crystal or stone formation. There were three instances of ureterovesical anastomotic stenosis. It appears that the absorbable staple can be safely used in urologic operations and that the use of the Poly CS 57 stapler for the construction of a bladder tube makes the procedure safer, simpler and faster.