Mechanical sutures in esophageal surgery.

Precise, safe and expeditious suturing of the esophagus to the stomach or the small or large bowel is required in procedures designed to re-establish continuity following esophagogastrectomy, partial or total esophagectomy and total gastrectomy, and to control exsanguinating hemorrhage from ruptured esophageal varcies. In the anastomosis of the esophagus to the stomach, small or large bowel, and in the control of hemorrhage from bleeding esophageal varices by a modified Tanner-Boerema procedure, the EEA, the GIA (loaded with SGIA cartridges) and the TA-55 stapling instruments significantly facilitate and simplify these operations.