After surgery, surgical staplers help to close incisions. In some circumstances, staplers may be preferable over stitches. Surgical staplers do not dissolve when an incision or wound heals like stitches. These should be removed by your surgeon after the incision heals since they need specific care.

How long should staplers remain inside of you?

A surgical circular stapler should be left in for some days according to the situation of the wound. The time your staplers can remain in place mostly relies on where they are placed and other factors. For instance, three to four days following a C-section, the staplers can be removed, but vertical incision staplers cannot be removed for seven to 10 days or longer.

How are surgical staplers removed?

Your doctor’s specific stapler removal techniques are determined by:

  • The surgery you underwent, the location of the staplers on your body, and whether they were placed inside or outside your body.
  • When your doctor removes your surgery staplers, it is typically uncomfortable. As each stapler is removed, you can experience a tugging or pinching feeling.

Your doctor takes the following actions after removing your surgical staplers:

  • Remove any coverings, such as wound dressings, from the area.
  • Watch out for any unusual signs of how the wound looks.
  • Use medical antiseptics to thoroughly sterilise the region.
  • The surgeon then slides the bottom end of the stapler tool under the outer part of the stapler.
  • To remove the stapler from the skin, gently wiggle it from side to side.
  • Up until the end of the incision, the surgeon repeats the steps on every other stapler in the area. If the area is still healing, they might not get all of your staplers out in one visit.
  • Each location where a stapler was removed should have a sterile strip applied by the surgeon.
  • Some staplers might remain inside your body to protect internal organ tissues. A linear stapler does this by keeping the tissues connected and protected.

Uses of surgical staplers

Surgical staplers are used by surgeons to close surgical wounds that are large or complicated to repair. Stapling might speed up the surgical process and make it less unpleasant. During major surgery, staplers may be used to repair big, open wounds because they are quicker, stronger, and easier to apply than standard sutures. Staplers, for instance, are frequently used following C-sections because they speed up the healing process and lessen the visibility of scars.

Takeaway 

For large or complicated surgeries, injuries, or incisions, staplers offer several benefits over stitches. They might even lessen the risk of consequences like infections in some circumstances. Before choosing staplers for any treatment, make sure to consult your doctor. Inform them about any issues or allergies you might face with surgical staplers.