Sutures, manual or mechanical, are an essential component of the reconstructive phase in a surgical procedure. They should, therefore, possess technical versatility, provide support for the surgeon's skills in dealing with normal anatomy and pathological changes, contribute to reliable wound healing and present no intrinsic short- or long-term liabilities. In operations on the small and large bowel, as well as the rectum, the cost advantage of manual sutures is offset by reduced procedure time, technical reliability and reproducible high-quality results achieved with stapling.