ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the three classes of ligating clips and staples based on the materials from which these devices are made: metallic, polymeric, and others. It also describes numerous and far-reaching applications for ligating clips and staples in surgical practice. These devices are convenient, reasonably easy to use, and can be placed rapidly while not requiring the same surgical skill necessary for accurate and secure placement of sutures. Initially, only metallic ligating clips were available, primarily because they were introduced into surgery considerably before synthetic polymeric materials were discovered. The fabrication of ligating devices from polyester-based polymers should ensure a regular and predictable hydrolytic breakdown in vivo and although they will induce a typical foreign body tissue reaction, it should be of limited duration and of relatively minor intensity. The Lactomer products are fabricated from a modification of the polymer used in the manufacture of Vicryl but the polymer differs from polyglactin 910 in its proportion of lactide copolymer units.
