A prospective comparison of abdominal hysterectomy using absorbable staples.

Forty-eight abdominal hysterectomies performed using Polysorb (United States Surgical Corporation) [corrected] absorbable staples were compared prospectively with 46 hysterectomies performed using a regular suture technique. The two groups were demographically similar and it was found that the time of operation (p = 0.001) and the amount of blood loss at operation was significantly reduced (p = 0.03). The incidence of granulations at the vaginal vault at six weeks was significantly reduced (p = 0.001) and return to activity (p = 0.02) and work (p = 0.01) were also significantly reduced for the patients who had a hysterectomy performed using Polysorb staples. There was no statistical difference in morbidity, complications, use of analgesics and period of hospitalization. The continued use of absorbable staples in abdominal hysterectomy is supported, related to the advantages that were statistically significant.