A vascularized autograft created by an autograft-forming apparatus and method, for surgical staple line reinforcement to prevent post-operative staple line leaks following a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for weight loss. Staple line reinforcement includes creating and positioning a vascularized autograft simultaneous with the gastric transection and serial stapling portions of a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) procedure. An array of autograft-forming elements can be included in the staple lines of an LSG stapling device to create multiple autograft plugs between the staples and allow normal, unionized healing of tissue along the staple line.
