Stapled versus hand-sewn intestinal anastomosis in pediatric surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Muhammad Meeran Saleem, Areeba Ahsan, Abia Shariq et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the outcomes of stapled versus hand-sewn intestinal anastomosis in pediatric patients under 7 years old. The analysis included 11 studies with 903 patients. Stapled anastomosis was associated with a significantly shorter operative time (mean difference = -19.26 min; p < 0.001) and earlier initiation of oral feeding (mean difference = -2.32 days; p = 0.002), indicating its potential advantages over hand-sewn techniques.
Key findings
- Stapled anastomosis reduced operative time by 19.26 minutes on average (p < 0.001).
- Patients with stapled anastomosis started oral feeding 2.32 days earlier (p = 0.002).
- No significant differences were observed in anastomotic leakage or reoperation rates.
Why it matters
Understanding the comparative effectiveness of stapled versus hand-sewn anastomosis can guide surgical decision-making in pediatric gastrointestinal procedures, potentially improving recovery times and operational efficiency.