Tribune Sept 15th 53 Stapling Operation Trims Stomach Cancer Death NEW YORK, Sept. 14 (INS) A new stomach stapling operation makes dangerous, advanced ulcers easy to treat and drastically slashes the death rate in stomach cancer, a distinguished Japanese surgeon reported Monday. Dr. Komet Nakayama said he uses a big, hand operated stapler like a desk stapler with pliers handles attached in operations to remove part or all of the stomach. It punches a line of staples across the stomach, sealing it off and preventing dangerous bleeding when the ulcerated or cancerous organ is cut out, he told the International College of Surgeons in New York. Then the esophagus or the remaining portion of the stomach is pulled down and joined to the small intestine by some special surgical stitching that anchors the junction fully. The Japanese specialist said the technique ig so easy and simple that most general surgeons can perform it in 30 minutes or less. It can be used to remove 99 out of every 100 stomach ulcers, regardless of their position and even if they have already produced extensive scars, he added. With earlier techniques, only about 50 per cent of ulcers could be reached without much more extensive surgery. Dr. Nakayamas report to the surgeons 18th annual U. S. Canadian Congress said only three patients died in 690 ulcer operations, against mortality rates of 8 per cent by other methods. In 366 stomach cancer cases, only four about 1 per cent died.