Curved cutter stapler vs. linear stapler in rectal cancer surgery: A pilot prospective randomized study

Objective: This study aimed to compare the safety and technical accessibility of linear stapler and curved cutter stapler (CCS) during mid to low rectal cancer surgery. Materials and methods: Between April and November 2006, 60 patients were randomly assigned to either linear staplers (DST TA® United States Surgical, Tyco Healthcare Group LP, Norwalk, CT) or the CCS (Contour Curved Cutter Stapler® Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., Cincinnati, OH) during low anterior resection for mid to low rectal cancers. Results: There were no significant differences in age, gender, body mass index, and mean carcinoembryonic antigen level between the two groups. Distal resection margin was longer in the CCS group as compared with the linear stapler group but did not reach statistical significance (24.7 vs. 20.8 mm, P = 0.065). There was no difference in the incidence of postoperative complications. Conclusion: In this study, both the CCS and linear staplers were satisfactory devices for securing the distal rectum during low anterior resection in mid to low rectal cancers.