[Stapler and manual bronchial anastomosis--results of a consecutive trial series]

After lobectomy and pneumonectomy in experimental evaluations stapled bronchial closures showed the lowest incidence of inflammatory reaction and the highest strength determined by leakage pressure compared with other suture material. A total of 233 lung resections-performed at Surgical University Clinic Köln-Lindenthal and the Clinic for General and Abdominal Surgery of the Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität Mainz--were reviewed. Mechanical stapling reduced the rate of bronchopleural fistulas to 2.0% compared with 7.1% after manual suturing. In parallel, mortality related to bronchial stump leakage decreased to 0.7%. Main advantages of bronchial closure with staplers are the simplicity of their use, the speed and the uniformity of the closure. Thereby stapling devices are valuable completions in pulmonary surgery.