Reduction of infectious morbidity with uterine stapling device.

Due to the recent development of absorbable surgical staples, application of gynecologic stapling methods has expanded to the field of obstetrics. Several studies have been published presenting the results of utilization of a novel hysterotomy and uterine stapling device for cesarean section (Poly CS-57, U.S. Surgical Corp, Norwalk CT). A review of all available data was analyzed to determine the rate of infectious morbidity secondary to the use of the device. Four studies fulfilled several criteria, including use of proper controls. A total of 383 patients were included in these studies with an infection rate of 6.4% (12/187) versus 16.3% (32/196) for the stapled and non-stapled (traditional sutured) group, respectively (p less than 0.001). The individual investigations attributed the decreased infection rate to reductions in blood loss and incisional hematoma formation and decreased reactivity of copolymer absorbable staples.