Exploring the Use of Skin Staples for Bowel Anastomosis: A Scoping Review

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

1 Department of Surgery, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria

2 Department of Surgery, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri

3 Master student of Public Health, Rutgers School of Public Health, New Jersey, United States of America

10.30476/acrr.2025.106368.1243

Abstract

Background: Intestinal staplers have revolutionized gastrointestinal surgery by facilitating faster bowel 
anastomoses, achieving outcomes comparable to hand-sewn techniques. However, their high cost restricts 
routine use in resource-limited settings, leading to increased interest in using skin staples for bowel anastomoses. 
Therefore, we aim to evaluate the use of skin staples for this purpose.
 Methods: We conducted a systematic search of databases using the search terms “skin staples” and “bowel 
anastomoses.” Studies that focused on the use of skin staples for bowel anastomoses were included, while 
abstracts, animal studies, and conference papers were excluded. The risk of bias was assessed with the 
ROBINS-I tool.
 Results: Two non-randomized studies involving 115 patients met the inclusion criteria. The majority of cases 
involved small bowel-to-small bowel anastomoses (74.8%), with cancer being the primary indication (80%). 
Postoperative complications included two cases of pelvic collections and one case of intestinal obstruction, all 
of which were managed non-operatively. No anastomotic leaks were reported. The risk of bias was moderate 
due to unclear patient selection processes.
 Conclusion: While the use of skin staples for bowel anastomoses appears to be safe, with no reported 
anastomotic leaks and minimal complications in the included studies, it is important to note the small sample 
sizes of these studies. This highlights the need for further multicenter randomized controlled trials to validate 
these findings and compare outcomes with conventional staplers and hand-sewn methods. The potential of skin 
staples as a viable alternative in resource-limited settings is promising; however, further research is necessary 
to confirm this.

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