What happens when stapler innovation doesn’t stand still?
A 2026 prospective randomized study from University Hospital Basel compared the AEON™ Endoscopic Surgical Stapler with the Echelon Flex Powered Plus in lung volume reduction surgery for severe emphysema. AEON™ was associated with a lower incidence of postoperative air leaks (35.3% vs. 60%) and a shorter median time to air leak closure (14.3 vs. 93.2 hours). Total air leak volume was also lower with AEON™ (1,925 vs. 12,310 mL). This video presents the key clinical findings from Macharia-Nimietz et al., published in Interdisciplinary CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery, 2026.
