Question:
How do they know that the stomach acid won't eat through the staples/stitches?

I don't want to have a complete transection, so I'm going with the staple and stitch line. How do the docs know that the stomach acid won't eat through?    — Donna S. C. (posted on February 18, 2001)

February 18, 2001
As long as your staple line remains intact, the acid will stay in the lower stomach. When the staple line disrupts, the acid is free to come back up into the pouch. The danger is not in the acid eating up the staples, but in the body rejecting them. However, with transection, the two stomachs heal and seal completely and are not dependent upon the mechanics of staples/sutures. That's why it's considered the better procedure. Needless to say, I've done both.
   — vitalady

February 18, 2001
If titanium can tolerate re-entry into the earth's atmosphere without burning up, I think it can handle a little bit of stomach acid. Ditto for stainless steel stitches.
   — blank first name B.