This video shows a presentation given June 2, 1988 in Luxembourg at the Second International Symposium and First European Congress on Stapling Surgery. The use of mechanical sutures has reliably changed some time-honored, battle-proven concepts in the techniques of closing visceral wounds and joining bowel ends. These new concepts are: everting mucosa-to-mucosa visceral closure; crossing; overlapping staple lines; variable anastomotic cross-sections; intersecting staple lines; sequential anastomotic resection; and, creation of substitute organs and preservation of function.