Radical abdominal hysterectomy using the ENDO-GIA stapler: report of 150 cases and literature review.

Over a seven-year period from 1990-1997 150 consecutive patients underwent Type III radical abdominal hysterectomy using the ENDO-GIA stapler on the cardinal and uterosacral ligaments. Compared to prior patients operated on with standard suturing methods, the stapler patients had shorter operating times, lower blood loss and infection rates, and shorter hospital stays without any increase in recurrence rate. The equipment failure rate was 3%. Although not all improvements in surgical and post-operative morbidity are likely due to use of the ENDO-GIA stapler, the use of the stapler clearly lowered operating times, blood loss, surgical morbidity, hospital stay with no adverse effect on patient survival.