The creation of autologous substitute organs with stapling instruments

After partial or total esophagectomy, total gastrectomy, pancolectomy, and urinary cystectomy, it becomes necessary to reestablish continuity and/or replace function by the creation of a substitute organ obtianed from the various portions of the gastrointestinal tract. Ideally, the creation of the substitute organ should be undertaken at the same operation in which the original organ is excised. At times, however, the surgeon may elect a two-stage approach by replacing the afflicted organ during a separate operation either prior to or after excision, as dictated by the circumstances surrounding each individual patient. The use of stapling instruments has greatly facilitated the precision, neatness, and speed with which substitute organs can be constructed. This is especially spectacular in those patients in whom a one-stage procedure is elected.