Esophagojejunal Anastomosis by Circular Stapler in Pediatric Patients: Size Minima Defined by Experience and Geometry.

Background

Esophagojejunostomy is facilitated by use of a circular stapler, particularly when performed laparoscopically. The minimum patient size that will allow use of circular staplers in the small intestine is unknown. Materials and

Methods

Retrospective review of esophagogastric dissociations performed at a single tertiary care institution for 48 months. This was combined with a geometric derivation of a size-estimation formula.

Results

From the 7 cases identified, patients weighing >16 kg easily accommodated the 21 mm stapler. There was a narrow fit in the patient weighing 13.6 kg, and the 6 kg patient was too small for the stapler.

Conclusions

Through a combination of clinical observation and physical reasoning, circular stapler applicability in small intestine is predicted by patient weight or intestinal measurement. Patients weighing >16 kg will accept the stapler, whereas patients <13 kg are likely too small. Alternately, on the basis of a geometric derivation, if the width of the flat intestine is >1.6 × the device diameter, the device will fit. This calculation can be applied broadly (e.g., incision length for laparoscopic ports or single-port access devices).