Should stitches/staples from rectal surgery be removed?

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Bob_Weiss
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Joined: Sun Apr 11, 2010 11:23 am
Location: Brooklyn, NY

Should stitches/staples from rectal surgery be removed?

Postby Bob_Weiss » Thu Sep 15, 2011 2:18 pm

It is one year since my ileostomy reversal and almost 2 years since a rectal resection. My surgeon so far has said nothing about removing the stitching that held my rectum together after surgery. Apparently, this is sometimes removed; sometimes not. I have no idea which is better. Does anyone have any experience with this?
Stage 3 R/C -1 node+ ( 7/09)
5 wks radiation, 2 wks chemo: 5FU (8-9/09)
Rectal surgery: tumor removal (11/09)
10 rounds Xeloda: 3000mg/daily 1 wk on/1 wk off (1/10-6/10)
Supplements: Aspirin, Calcium, Vit. D3
03/27/17: 7+ yrs. since surgery--still NED

SkiFletch
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Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2009 3:39 pm
Facebook Username: Michael Fletcher
Location: Buffalo, NY

Re: Should stitches/staples from rectal surgery be removed?

Postby SkiFletch » Thu Sep 15, 2011 3:48 pm

You mean the internal stitches? I wasn't aware those were done with anything removable.
11/13/09 5cm Stage IV 9/25 lymph nodes w/2cm peritoneal met at 29 YoA
12/15/09 LA right hemi-colectomy
6/16/10 Folfox FINISHED
8/10/10 Prophylactic HIPEC
10/9/10 got Married :D
Still NED and living life to the fullest

"Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life."

beth568
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Joined: Fri Mar 25, 2011 7:49 am
Location: Boston area, MA

Re: Should stitches/staples from rectal surgery be removed?

Postby beth568 » Thu Sep 15, 2011 4:25 pm

My surgeon used titanium staples for my internal reattachment, and they're permanent. I don't think any of those staples are intended to be removed - they'd have to open you back up to do it, with all the associated risks of surgery. I've never heard of anyone having internal staples or stitches removed.
Beth
dx @age 42, Jan '11 RC, T2or3NxM0 (stage IIIA/IIIB)
6 wks chemorad Feb - Mar '11
LAR 5/23/11, staged T2N1bM0 (2 of 15 nodes positive)
8 rounds FOLFOX, June-Oct. 2011
clear scans Nov '11, May '12, Nov '12, May '13
http://www.mysemicolon.net

Bob_Weiss
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Joined: Sun Apr 11, 2010 11:23 am
Location: Brooklyn, NY

Re: Should stitches/staples from rectal surgery be removed?

Postby Bob_Weiss » Fri Sep 16, 2011 10:47 am

beth568 wrote:My surgeon used titanium staples for my internal reattachment, and they're permanent. I don't think any of those staples are intended to be removed - they'd have to open you back up to do it, with all the associated risks of surgery. I've never heard of anyone having internal staples or stitches removed.

You are right. At my one-year follow-up today, I asked the surgeon about this. He said that titanium staples can be safely maintained in the body indefinitely and it is rare for any problem to develop. He said that they do not interfere with airport or other scanning devices. I had been a bit concerned, because someone at ColonClub recently mentioned having internal staples removed to solve a problem that developed.
Stage 3 R/C -1 node+ ( 7/09)
5 wks radiation, 2 wks chemo: 5FU (8-9/09)
Rectal surgery: tumor removal (11/09)
10 rounds Xeloda: 3000mg/daily 1 wk on/1 wk off (1/10-6/10)
Supplements: Aspirin, Calcium, Vit. D3
03/27/17: 7+ yrs. since surgery--still NED

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CRguy
Posts: 10473
Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:00 pm

Re: Should stitches/staples from rectal surgery be removed?

Postby CRguy » Fri Sep 16, 2011 11:07 am

Bob_Weiss wrote: I had been a bit concerned, because someone at ColonClub recently mentioned having internal staples removed to solve a problem that developed.

Sutures are usually the self absorbing type. Staples, as you mention, rarely cause problems ( very, very rarely to "never" migrate due to healing ) are essentially non reactive in the body, and being nonferrous metal (titanium)...are not an issue with magnetic fields (MRI) but being metal, will be visible on imaging.
Yes, I asked all these questions too !
Cheers
Caregiver x 4
Stage IV A rectal cancer/lung met
17 Year survivor
my life is an ongoing totally randomized UNcontrolled experiment with N=1 !
Review of my Journey so far

Lee
Posts: 6207
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:09 pm

Re: Should stitches/staples from rectal surgery be removed?

Postby Lee » Fri Sep 16, 2011 1:15 pm

I'm not sure about my rectum, but I do have titanium screws holding my head together. They have never been a problem going through the airports, but I did once ask my neurosurgeon about it (ie should I carry a special card stating I have these special screws). He said no, people can make up phony cards to say anything. If there ever is an issue, just show them your scar :shock:. You can't fake that :shock: . Because of my 2 surgeries there, I have a major indentation in my skull.

Lee
rectal cancer - April 2004
46 yrs old at diagnoses
stage III C - 6/13 lymph positive
radiation - 6 weeks
surgery - August 2004/hernia repair 2014
permanent colostomy
chemo - FOLFOX
NED - 16 years and counting!

Buckwirth
Posts: 121
Joined: Sat Feb 26, 2011 3:07 am
Location: Orange County, California

Re: Should stitches/staples from rectal surgery be removed?

Postby Buckwirth » Fri Sep 16, 2011 9:21 pm

Lee wrote:I'm not sure about my rectum, but I do have titanium screws holding my head together...

Lee


Nothing holds my head together, and when I try to explain to the nice TSA agent that the scissors belong to Harvey, well they look at me in the oddest way. I don't see the problem, I bought him a seat and he needs to keep his pink fur trimmed...


sorry Lee, I couldn't resist
Dx April 2010
Stage IV
Mets to distant lymph
Colostomy 1/2011
Folfox w Avastin 4/2010 to 9/2010
Radiation 10/2010
Erbitux/Irinotecan 6/2011 to 12/2011
Currently out of treatment options? 12/2011
Back on Folfox 2/2012

Lee
Posts: 6207
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:09 pm

Re: Should stitches/staples from rectal surgery be removed?

Postby Lee » Fri Sep 16, 2011 10:05 pm

Buckwirth wrote:
Lee wrote:I'm not sure about my rectum, but I do have titanium screws holding my head together...

Lee


Nothing holds my head together, and when I try to explain to the nice TSA agent that the scissors belong to Harvey, well they look at me in the oddest way. I don't see the problem, I bought him a seat and he needs to keep his pink fur trimmed...


sorry Lee, I couldn't resist


O.K. who's Harvey???

Last I heard, scissors were O.K. (I believe up to 4") to take on the plane now. I will be honest, I leave my best ostomy scissors at home and have another set I take on the plane SO IF INCASE I run into an TSA worker who is is NOT up to date on current rules and regs. I don't want to miss a flight argueing with a TSA on what I can (and can not) bring on the plane with me. :lol:

Lee
rectal cancer - April 2004
46 yrs old at diagnoses
stage III C - 6/13 lymph positive
radiation - 6 weeks
surgery - August 2004/hernia repair 2014
permanent colostomy
chemo - FOLFOX
NED - 16 years and counting!

Buckwirth
Posts: 121
Joined: Sat Feb 26, 2011 3:07 am
Location: Orange County, California

Re: Should stitches/staples from rectal surgery be removed?

Postby Buckwirth » Fri Sep 16, 2011 11:24 pm

Lee wrote:
O.K. who's Harvey???

Lee

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey_(film)

A very big rabbit, and a close personal friend. :shock:
Dx April 2010
Stage IV
Mets to distant lymph
Colostomy 1/2011
Folfox w Avastin 4/2010 to 9/2010
Radiation 10/2010
Erbitux/Irinotecan 6/2011 to 12/2011
Currently out of treatment options? 12/2011
Back on Folfox 2/2012


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