Intraoperative detection of the remnant cystic duct during robot-assisted surgery using near-infrared fluorescence imaging: a case report

The use of indocyanine green and near-infrared imaging in laparoscopic completion cholecystectomy for the management of stump cholecystitis: A case series

INTRODUCTION

Stump cholecystitis is managed by performing a completion cholecystectomy, which can be done either laparoscopically or by an open method. The use of indocyanine green (ICG) is known to improve the identification of the biliary tree anatomy, facilitating Calot's triangle dissection and shortening surgery, thereby reducing the risk of bile duct injuries and making laparoscopic cholecystectomy safer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis was performed of prospectively collected data from 15 patients at our institution from March 2016 to March 2021. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography was performed in all 15 cases, showing remnant gall bladder in all cases with calculi within. Four cases had a dilated common bile duct (CBD) with CBD calculi. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and stone removal followed by CBD stenting were performed in the four patients with CBD calculi. These four cases were scheduled for surgery 4 weeks post-ERCP. All 15 patients underwent laparoscopic completion cholecystectomy. The mean operating time was 80 min.

RESULTS

The post-operative period of all cases was uneventful, and the patients were discharged on post-operative day 2 or day 3. All patients remained asymptomatic during 1-5 years of follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic completion cholecystectomy was performed safely in cases of stump cholecystitis and resulted in symptom relief during short-term follow-up. The use of ICG and near-infrared imaging in such cases helps identify the biliary anatomy, may contribute to the safety of laparoscopic completion cholecystectomy and might reduce the duration of surgery.

Robot-assisted and fluorescence-guided remnant-cholecystectomy: a prospective dual-center cohort study

BACKGROUND

Abdominal symptoms after cholecystectomy may be caused by gallstones in a remnant gallbladder or a long cystic duct stump. Resection of a remnant gallbladder or cystic duct stump is associated with an increased risk of conversion and bile duct or vascular injuries. We prospectively investigated the additional value of robotic assistance and fluorescent bile duct illumination in redo biliary surgery.

METHODS

In this prospective two-centre observational cohort study, 28 patients were included with an indication for redo biliary surgery because of remnant stones in a remnant gallbladder or long cystic duct stump. Surgery was performed with the da Vinci X® and Xi® robotic system. The biliary tract was visualised in the fluorescence Firefly® mode shortly after intravenous injection of indocyanine green.

RESULTS

There were no conversions or perioperative complications, especially no vascular or bile duct injuries. Fluorescence-based illumination of the extrahepatic bile ducts was successful in all cases. Symptoms were resolved in 27 of 28 patients. Ten patients were treated in day care and 13 patients were discharged the day after surgery.

CONCLUSION

Robot-assisted fluorescence-guided surgery for remnant gallbladder or cystic duct stump resection is safe, effective and can be done in day-care setting.

Fluorescence-guided surgery: comprehensive review

BACKGROUND

Despite significant improvements in preoperative workup and surgical planning, surgeons often rely on their eyes and hands during surgery. Although this can be sufficient in some patients, intraoperative guidance is highly desirable. Near-infrared fluorescence has been advocated as a potential technique to guide surgeons during surgery.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted to identify relevant articles for fluorescence-guided surgery. The literature search was performed using Medical Subject Headings on PubMed for articles in English until November 2022 and a narrative review undertaken.

RESULTS

The use of invisible light, enabling real-time imaging, superior penetration depth, and the possibility to use targeted imaging agents, makes this optical imaging technique increasingly popular. Four main indications are described in this review: tissue perfusion, lymph node assessment, anatomy of vital structures, and tumour tissue imaging. Furthermore, this review provides an overview of future opportunities in the field of fluorescence-guided surgery.

CONCLUSION

Fluorescence-guided surgery has proven to be a widely innovative technique applicable in many fields of surgery. The potential indications for its use are diverse and can be combined. The big challenge for the future will be in bringing experimental fluorophores and conjugates through trials and into clinical practice, as well as validation of computer visualization with large data sets. This will require collaborative surgical groups focusing on utility, efficacy, and outcomes for these techniques.

Robotic-assisted completion cholecystectomy with repair of cholecystoduodenal fistula

Post-cholecystectomy syndrome (PCS) is a well-documented complication of incomplete cholecystectomy. The etiology is often post-surgical chronic inflammation from unresolved cholelithiasis, which is secondary to anatomical abnormalities, including a retained gallbladder or a large cystic duct remnant (CDR). An exceedingly rare consequence is retained gallstone fistulization into the gastrointestinal tract. We present a case of a 70-year-old female with multiple comorbidities 4 years status-post incomplete cholecystectomy, who developed PCS with cholecystoduodenal fistula secondary to retained gallstone in the remnant gallbladder, with CDR involvement, treated via robotic-assisted surgery. Reoperation in PCS has been traditionally performed via laparoscopic approach with recent advances made in robotic-assisted surgery. However, we report the first documented case of PCS complicated by bilioenteric fistula repaired with robotic-assisted surgery. This highlights the value of robotic-assisted surgery in complicated cases, where one must contend with post-surgical anatomic abnormalities and visualization difficulties. Subsequent investigation is necessary to objectively quantify the safety and reproducibility of our approach.

Detection of the common bile duct in difficult bile duct exploration using indocyanine green fluorescence imaging: A case report

We describe two cases using indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging for visualization of the common bile duct (CBD) in patients with difficult Bile duct exploration (BDE) due to extensive dense adhesions around the hepatoduodenal ligament. The CBD was rapidly detected under fluorescence guidance without excessive dissection of extensive dense adhesions. It is illustrated that the use of ICG fluorescence imaging is effective and feasible for detecting the CBD and thus we highly recommend this method during difficult BDE.

Laparoscopic ultrasound-guided superselective portal vein injection combined with real-time indocyanine green fluorescence imaging and navigation for accurate resection of localized intrahepatic bile duct dilatation: a case report

Background

Primary intrahepatic bile duct dilatation can be very harmful to patients although it belongs to benign biliary disease. It can occur in any part of the liver, intraoperative laparoscopic ultrasound (LUS) guidance combine with real-time indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence navigation are the means of choice for accurate surgical resection.

Case presentation

Herein we reported a 43-year-old female patient presented with repeated right upper abdominal pain and distension for 3 years and aggravated for half a year, without fever and jaundice. A diagnosis of localized bile duct dilatation with lithiasis in segment 4 (S4) was made on the basis of preoperative imaging. Correspondingly, we selected to perform a laparoscopic surgery with LUS guided real time ICG fluorescence imaging (ICG-FI) and navigation to make the operation more simply and accurately, as well as to retain normal tissues in a certain extent. Laparoscopic resection of S4b and partial S4a was successfully performed, without any complications.

Conclusion

Laparoscopic anatomical surgery for intrahepatic bile duct dilatation is a technically challenging operation. The combined use of preoperative three-dimensional computerized tomography (CT) planning, intraoperative LUS guided super-selection, ICG hepatic segment staining and real-time fluorescence navigation could help surgeons accurately complete the segmentectomy or subsegmentectomy with minimized trauma and maximized liver tissue preservation.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12893-021-01325-w.

A patient with cystic duct remnant calculus treated by laparoscopic surgery combined with near-infrared fluorescence cholangiography

BACKGROUND

The recurrence of symptoms present before cholecystectomy may be caused by a cystic duct remnant. The resolution of cystic duct remnant syndrome may require surgical resection, but identification of the duct remnant during laparoscopic surgery may be difficult because of adhesions following the previous procedure. Open surgery, which is more invasive than laparoscopic surgery, is frequently chosen to avoid bile duct injury.

CASE PRESENTATION

The patient was a 24-year-old woman with previous laparoscopic cholecystectomy for chronic cholecystitis and repeated attacks of biliary colic. The postoperative course was uneventful, but computed tomography revealed a remnant cystic duct calculus. Ten months after surgery, the patient returned to our department for right hypochondriac pain. Laparoscopic remnant cystic duct resection was performed with intraoperative near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence cholangiography to visualize the common bile duct and remnant cystic duct. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged on day 3 after surgery. At the 6-month follow-up, she had no recurrence of pain.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic surgery with NIR cholangiography is a safe and effective alternative for the removal of a cystic duct remnant calculus after cholecystectomy.