Robot-Assisted Vaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (RvNOTES) with Total Hysterectomy for Management of Stage IV Endometriosis with/without Complete Cul-de-Sac Obliteration: 23-Case Pilot Feasibility Study

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To show feasibility and short-term outcomes of robot-assisted vaginal NOTES (RvNOTES) for the treatment of stage IV endometriosis during total hysterectomy with/without complete cul-de-sac obliteration.

DESIGN

Retrospective case series.

SETTING

Single academic tertiary care hospital in Houston, Texas, USA.

PATIENTS

Twenty-three adult women with stage IV endometriosis.

INTERVENTIONS

RvNOTES with total hysterectomy for excision of severe endometriosis.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Patients were assessed for various metrics including total operative time, robot dock time, robot console time, hysterectomy time, estimated blood loss, perioperative pain using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and complications. The mean total operative time was 224.3 minutes. The study also found that patients with complete cul-de-sac obliteration had significantly longer operative times and higher estimated blood loss compared to those with partial or no obliteration. Postoperative VAS pain scores showed a significant reduction over a 6-week period. Complications included one case of complete ureteral transection, pelvic hematoma with infection, vaginal abscess, urinary tract infection, and pneumonia.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that RvNOTES may be a feasible surgical approach in expert hands for treating stage IV endometriosis, even in cases with complete obliteration of the cul-de-sac.

Anatomical liver resection using the ultrasound-guided compression technique in minimal access surgery

BACKGROUND

Segmental or subsegmental anatomical resection (AR) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in minimal access liver surgery (MALS) has been technically proposed. The Glissonean approach or dye injection technique are generally adopted. The tumor-feeding portal pedicle compression technique (C-AR) is an established approach in open surgery, but its feasibility in the MALS environment has never been described.

METHODS

Eligible patients were prospectively enrolled to undergo laparoscopic or robotic ultrasound-guided C-AR based on HCC location and preoperative identification of a single tumor-feeding portal pedicle. Initial C-AR experience was gained with laparoscopic cases in the beginning of 2020. Following our progressive experience in laparoscopic C-AR, patients requiring AR for HCC were consecutively selected for robotic C-AR.

RESULTS

A total of 10 patients underwent minimal access C-AR. All patients had Child-Pugh A HCC. The surgical procedures included 6 laparoscopic and 4 robotic C-AR. Median tumor size was 3.1 cm (range 2-7 cm). All procedures had R0 margin. Postoperative complications were nil.

CONCLUSION

C-AR technique is a feasible and promising technique for patients eligible for laparoscopic and robotic AR for HCC. Further data are necessary to validate its applicability to more complex minimal access AR.

Indocyanine green endoscopic evaluation of pituitary stalk and gland blood flow in craniopharyngiomas

To assess the use of indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence endoscopy to evaluate pituitary blood flow in craniopharyngioma resection and its possible impact on intraoperative decisions regarding pituitary stalk processing. Patients with craniopharyngiomas who had undergone transsphenoidal surgery since March 2021, when an ICG endoscope was introduced at the Kagoshima University Hospital, were included in the study. When targeted tumor removal was approaching completion, 10 mg of ICG was administered intravenously to evaluate blood flow in the pituitary stalk and gland. ICG signals and endocrinological status before and after surgery were evaluated retrospectively. Pituitary stalk and gland blood flow were evaluated as positive (++), weakly positive (+), and no signal (-).Ten patients with craniopharyngiomas underwent transsphenoidal surgery using an ICG endoscope (mean age 56.6 ± 14.2 years; 40% male). Among the eight patients in whom the pituitary stalk was preserved, pituitary function with positive signal on the stalk was intact in two. Two other patients with weakly positive stalk and positive pituitary gland signals showed intact function or minimal pituitary dysfunction. Four patients had impairments in more than three axes with poor ICG signals in the stalk or pituitary gland. Two patients underwent pituitary amputation because of high tumor invasion and lack of ICG signal in the stalk after tumor removal, resulting in panhypopituitarism. A negative ICG signal in the pituitary stalk is likely to indicate postoperative pituitary function loss. Craniopharyngioma surgery using ICG endoscopy may be useful for predicting endocrine prognosis and improving tumor outcomes.

Use of intraoperative indocyanine green fluorescence in determining testicular viability in testicular torsion patients in rural settings: A case report

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Testicular torsion (TT) is the result of spermatic cord twisting which can lead to significant ischemia, making it a time-sensitive surgical emergency. General surgeons in rural centers may lack the resources to adequately evaluate the viability of the affected testicle. Indocyanine green fluorescence (IGF) has been increasingly used to assess vascular perfusion in general surgery cases. In this case report, we show the use of IGF in a rural setting to assess testicular viability in TT.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 17-year-old male was transferred to our rural regional hospital emergency department for sudden and persistent right scrotal pain. The onset of symptoms was approximately 52 h at presentation. TT was diagnosed with a doppler ultrasound by a radiologist. Urgent detorsion surgery was performed. Intraoperative assessment of viability was unclear after the usual means and IGF helped confirm the absence of testicle vascularization and the need for orchiectomy.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

General surgeons in rural communities are called to manage TT with limited resources and experience. IGF is widely used in general surgery and urology. Animal studies and two case reports show potential benefits of IGF in TT. In our patient, IGF was useful to confirm without a doubt that the right testicle was ischemic and non-viable.

CONCLUSION

In a rural setting with limited access to radiology and distant urology coverage, IGF is an excellent resource to determine intraoperative blood flow in TT with uncertain viability.

Preservation of remnant esophagus during total pharyngolaryngectomy in a patient with previous subtotal esophagectomy: a case report

BACKGROUND

With the improved survival rate of patients with esophageal cancer, secondary cancers, including pharyngolaryngeal cancer, have become a problem. Phanryngolaryngeal cancer surgery often requires esophagogastric anastomosis resection in patients with a previous history of subtotal esophagectomy. Owing to adhesions, especially surrounding the esophagogastric anastomosis, caused by the initial surgery, the second surgery might cause postoperative complications.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 65-year-old man was diagnosed with early stage esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and underwent endoscopic mucosal dissection. However, the histopathological depth of the tumor was pT1b, and additional treatment was required. After administration of the neoadjuvant chemotherapy, he underwent thoracoscopic esophagectomy and retrosternum reconstruction via a gastric tube (pT1N3M0 stage III). Eight months after the first surgery, tumor recurrences were observed at the anastomosis and left cervical lymph node. Definitive chemoradiotherapy was performed for the recurrences, and complete response was achieved. Seven months after chemoradiotherapy, he was diagnosed with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in the right piriform fossa (cT2N2bM0 stage IVA), and salvage surgery was chosen as treatment. The surgical findings revealed strong adhesion around the remnant esophagus, which was difficult to dissect from surrounding tissue and was associated with a risk of breaking of the anastomosis. However, indocyanine green fluorescence imaging findings indicated sufficient blood flow to preserve the remnant esophagus, including the anastomosis, even after the interruption of blood flow from the proximal side of the esophagus by total pharyngolaryngectomy. Finally, approximately 4 cm of the remnant esophagus was preserved, and the free jejunum reconstruction with cervical vascular anastomosis was performed. Moreover, the patient was discharged without complications on postoperative day 38. After 10 months of the second surgery, a metastatic lymph node was observed in the right neck. Immune checkpoint inhibitors and chemotherapy were administered, and the patient is alive and under treatment 1.5 years after the second surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Blood supply to the remnant cervical esophagus was thought to be from the gastric conduit over the anastomosis and surrounding capillaries. Thus, the preservation of the remnant esophagus can be considered in total pharyngolaryngectomy even after < 2 years of esophagectomy by blood flow evaluation using indocyanine green fluorescence.

The usefulness of indocyanine green fluorescence imaging for intestinal perfusion assessment of intracorporeal anastomosis in laparoscopic colon cancer surgery

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to clarify the usefulness of indocyanine green fluorescence imaging (ICG-FI) in the assessment of intestinal vascular perfusion in patients who receive intracorporeal anastomosis (IA) in colon cancer surgery.

METHODS

This was a single-center, retrospective study using propensity score matching. We compared the surgical outcomes of colon cancer patients who underwent laparoscopic colonic resection with IA or external anastomosis (EA) with the intraoperative evaluation of anastomotic perfusion using ICG-FI from January 2019 to July 2021. The detection rate of poor anastomotic perfusion by ICG-FI was examined.

RESULTS

A total of 223 patients were enrolled. After matching, 69 patients each were classified into the IA and EA groups. There were no significant differences in age, sex, body mass index, tumor localization, or progression between the two groups. The operation time was similar (172 min vs. 171 min, p = 0.62) and the amount of bleeding was significantly lower (0 ml vs. 2 ml, p = 0.0023) in the IA group. The complication rates (grade ≥ 2) of the two groups were similar (14.5% vs. 11.6%, p = 0.59). ICG-FI identified four patients (5.8%) with poor anastomotic perfusion in the IA group, but none in the EA group (p = 0.046). All four patients with poor perfusion in the IA group underwent additional resection; none of these patients developed postoperative complications.

CONCLUSION

Poor anastomotic perfusion was detected in 5.8% of cases who underwent laparoscopic colon cancer surgery with IA. ICG-FI is useful for evaluating anastomotic perfusion in IA in order to prevent AL.

Clinical significance of discordances in sentinel lymph node reactivity between radioisotope and indocyanine green fluorescence in patients with cN0 breast cancer

BACKGROUND

/Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of combining radioisotopes (RI) and indocyanine green (ICG) and investigate discordances in sentinel lymph node (SN) reactivity using each tracer in cN0 breast cancer patients.

METHODS

In total, 338 cN0 primary breast cancer patients who underwent SN biopsy with RI and ICG and axillary lymph node (ALN) dissection were included. SN positivity with RI, ICG, and a combination of RI and ICG was denoted as SN(RI), SN(ICG), and SN(RI+ICG), respectively. We retrospectively estimated metastatic SN detection rates, each method's discordance rate, and the correlation of discordances in SN reactivity with postoperative N staging.

RESULTS

The combination of RI and ICG had higher metastatic SN detection rates (99.7%) than RI or ICG alone (91.7% and 96.4%, respectively; p < 0.01). The discordance rate between SN(RI) and SN(ICG) in detecting metastatic SNs was 11.3% (38/337 cases). The absence of SN(RI), cT stage (cT2-3), higher histological grade (G3), and histological type (special type) were identified as risk factors of pN2-3 disease (odds ratios: 8.64, 2.56, 1.92, and 3.28, respectively; p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Discordances in SN reactivity between RI and ICG helps in identifying SN metastasis. Although the absence of SN(RI) is rare, it is a significant sign of advanced ALN metastases. The findings of our study indicate that ALN dissection should be considered for accurate nodal staging in such cases.

Predictive impact of the thoracic inlet space on ICG fluorescence blood flow speed in the gastric conduit wall and anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy

PURPOSE

The thoracic inlet space might influence the blood vessel perfusion in the gastric conduit. The purpose of this study was to clarify the impacts of the thoracic inlet space on blood vessel perfusion in the gastric conduit and anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy.

METHODS

One hundred and forty-two esophageal cancer patients underwent esophagectomy followed by gastric conduit reconstruction via the retrosternal route. The blood flow speed in the gastric conduit was measured using indocyanine green fluorescence before and after reconstruction. Parameters at the thoracic inlet space were measured using CT. We then investigated the correlation between these two parameters and whether they could predict anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy.

RESULTS

Blood flow speed in the gastric conduit was slower after reconstruction than before reconstruction (P < 0.001). The incidence of anastomotic leakage (n = 23) was higher among patients with a delayed blood flow speed before reconstruction (n = 27) than among those with a non-delayed blood flow speed before reconstruction (n = 115) (P < 0.001). Among the patients with a non-delayed blood flow speed before reconstruction, the thoracic inlet area (TIA, sternum-tracheal distance × clavicle head distance) was positively correlated with the blood flow speed after reconstruction (P = 0.023) and was identified as an independent predictor of anastomotic leakage (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

A narrow TIA was associated with a delayed blood flow speed in the gastric conduit after reconstruction and was capable of predicting anastomotic leakage in the patients with a non-delayed blood flow speed before reconstruction.

Fluorescence Guided Cholecystectomy by a Single Group: Initial 47 Procedures Experience in Mexico

Introduction

Fluorescence guided surgery (FGS) for biliary surgery uses indocyanine green (ICG), a specific dye that is eliminated almost exclusively by the liver and biliary system, making it very useful for an adequate and safe visualization of biliary tract structures.

Methods

We present our experience with FGS for cholecystectomy multiport and single port, including all patients older than 18 years of age, with diagnosis of cholecystitis (acute and chronic), from October 18, 2018 to December 30, 2021.

Results

A total of 47 patients were managed with FGS cholecystectomy, mean age was 61.2 (± 17.7) years, 31 (65.9%) were female and 16 (34.1%) males. Twenty-four (51.1%) were emergency procedures, due to acute cholecystitis, of which 10 (41.7%) presented with an infected gallbladder (Parkland 3 to 5) and three (12.5%) presented with related acute pancreatitis, the remaining 23 (48.9%) cases were elective surgeries, due to chronic cholecystitis. Visualization of laparoscopic fluorescence of the biliary ducts was achieved in 45 of the 47 patients (95.7%). Mean time for biliary tract structures visual identification was 8 minutes and 40 seconds (± 7 minutes, 20 seconds), fluorescence allowed the visualization of biliary tract anatomical variants in two patients.

Discussion

The reported rate of biliary structures visualization using ICG is relatively variable, ranging from 25% to 100%, in our group it was 95.7% due to our protocol.

Conclusions

ICG utilization for cholecystectomy is very useful and helps for a safe procedure even in difficult surgeries, we believe that it should be used in everyday practice.

Favorable control of hepatocellular carcinoma with peritoneal dissemination by surgical resection using indocyanine green fluorescence imaging: a case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

The optimal management for peritoneal dissemination in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma remains unclear. Although several reports have described the usefulness of surgical resection, the indications should be carefully considered. Herein, we report the case of a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma with peritoneal recurrence who underwent surgical resection using an indocyanine green fluorescence navigation system and achieved favorable disease control.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 45-year-old Asian woman underwent left hemihepatectomy for a ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma. Seventeen months after the initial surgery, a single nodule near the cut surface of the liver was detected on computed tomography, along with elevation of tumor markers. The patient was diagnosed with peritoneal metastasis and underwent a surgical resection. Twelve months later, a single nodule on the dorsal side of the right hepatic lobe was detected on computed tomography, and we performed surgical resection. Indocyanine green (0.5 mg/kg) was intravenously administered 3 days before surgery, and the indocyanine green fluorescence imaging system revealed clear green fluorescence in the tumor, which helped us perform complete resection. Indocyanine green fluorescence enabled the detection of additional lesions that could not be identified by preoperative imaging, especially in the second metastasectomy. There was no further recurrence at 3 months postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

When considering surgical intervention for peritoneal recurrence in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, complete resection is mandatory. Given that disseminated nodules are sometimes too small to be detected by preoperative imaging studies, intraoperative indocyanine green fluorescence may be an essential tool for determining the indications for surgical resection.

The oncologic safety and accuracy of indocyanine green fluorescent dye marking in securing the proximal resection margin during totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer: a retrospective comparative study

Background

Securing the proximal resection margin in totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer is related to curability and recurrence, while reducing the operation time is related to patient safety. This study aimed to investigate the role of indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescent dye marking in totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy, whether it is an oncologically safe and accurate procedure that can be conducted in a single centre.

Methods

The data of 93 patients who underwent laparoscopic-assisted distal gastrectomy (non-ICG group) or totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy using ICG (ICG group) between 2010 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. To correct for confounding factors, a propensity score matching was performed.

Results

Proximal resection margin did not vary with the ICG injection site after the propensity score matching (lower ICG, 3.84 cm vs. lower non-ICG, 4.42 cm, p = 0.581; middle ICG, 3.34 cm vs. middle non-ICG, 3.20 cm; p = 0.917), while the operation time was reduced by a mean of 34 min in the ICG group (ICG, 239.3 [95% confidence interval, 220.1–258.5 min]; non-ICG, 273.0 [95% confidence interval, 261.6–284.4] min; p = 0.006).

Conclusions

ICG injection for securing the proximal resection margin in totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy is an oncologically safe and accurate procedure, with the advantage of reducing the operation time of gastric cancer surgery while it has the benefit of locating the tumour or clips when it is impossible to locate the tumour during surgery due to the inability to perform an endoscopic examination or when it is hard to directly palpate the tumour or clips in the operating theatre; this can be performed at a single centre.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12957-022-02494-5.

Indocyanine green fluorescence to ensure perfusion in middle segment-preserving pancreatectomy: a case report

Background

Middle segment-preserving pancreatectomy (MSPP) is an alternative to total pancreatectomy that allows for the preservation of the endocrine and exocrine functions of the pancreas. However, maintaining perfusion to the pancreatic remnant is of critical importance. We describe the first case to our knowledge in which indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence was used to confirm perfusion to the pancreatic remnant during MSPP.

Case presentation

A 79-year-old man with diabetes mellitus was referred to our hospital for treatment of a pancreatic tumor. Computed tomography revealed a hypovascular mass in the uncus of the pancreas and dilatation of the main pancreatic duct, measuring 13 mm in the tail of the pancreas. He was diagnosed with cancer of the pancreatic uncus via endoscopic ultrasound and fine-needle aspiration revealed a mixed-type intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN), along with high-risk stigmata in the tail of the pancreas. We performed MSPP and the length of the pancreatic remnant was 4.6 cm. The dorsal pancreatic artery was preserved and perfusion to the pancreatic remnant was confirmed by ICG fluorescence. Histopathological examination showed a pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in the uncus (pT1cN1M0, pStage 2B) and IPMN in the tail of the pancreas. The postoperative course was complicated by a grade B pancreatic fistula, but this was successfully treated with conservative management. The patient was transferred to a hospital 33 days after surgery. Insulin administration was necessary, but C-peptide was detectable and blood glucose was relatively well-controlled. He did not exhibit any exocrine dysfunction when pancreatic enzyme supplementation was administered.

Conclusion

ICG fluorescence can be used to evaluate perfusion to the pancreatic remnant during MSPP.

First case series in Mexico

INTRODUCTION AND AIM

Anastomosis leak occurs in 1-19% of colorrectal surgeries. Our objective was to present the first Mexican case series on colorrectal surgery using indocyanine green fluorescence angiography to evaluate perfusion prior to carrying out the anastomosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective, analytic, descriptive study was conducted. We studied the case records of consecutive patients that underwent colorrectal surgery with indocyanine green angiography performed by the same group of colorrectal surgeons.

RESULTS

Twenty-one case records were reviewed. Eleven (52.3%) of the patients were women, mean patient age was 57 years (38-82), and mean body mass index was 25 kg/m² (17-34). Fifteen (71.4%) patients were diagnosed with malignant disease. Indocyanine green angiography changed our therapeutic decision in three (14.2%) patients. Two colorrectal anastomoses (14.2%) were performed at fewer than 5 cm from the anal verge and 13 (61.9%) were performed at more than 5 cm from the anal verge. Three of the anastomoses were ileocolic (14.2%), two were coloanal (9.5%), and one was ileoanal (4.7%). There were six (28.5%) complications, no cases of anastomotic leak, and no complications associated with the use of indocyanine green. The mortality rate was 0%.

CONCLUSION

The present case series is the first on colorrectal surgery conducted in Mexico using indocyanine green fluorescence angiography, with excellent results.

A rare case of sigmoid colon cancer in which the lower limbs received collateral blood flow from the inferior mesenteric artery owing to peripheral artery disease

Background

Colorectal cancer and peripheral artery disease are common conditions in older adults and may coexist in this population. Lymph node dissection along the inferior mesenteric artery is a vital procedure in cases of left-sided colorectal cancer. However, the inferior mesenteric artery may show a collateral blood pathway in rare cases of peripheral artery disease. We report a case of advanced sigmoid colon cancer in which the lower limbs received inferior mesenteric artery flow owing to asymptomatic peripheral artery disease. The possibility of catastrophic lower-limb ischemia because of complete mesenteric excision with ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery was a matter of concern in this case.

Case presentation

A 73-year-old man with asymptomatic peripheral artery disease was diagnosed with stage IIIB advanced sigmoid colon cancer. Angiography using a balloon-occlusion catheter revealed that his lower limbs received prominent inferior mesenteric artery blood flow through a collateral pathway. Therefore, interventional radiologists and cardiovascular surgeons evaluated the indications for endovascular stents or bypass grafts. The patient also had dilated cardiomyopathy, so the cardiovascular physicians evaluated his tolerance in the worst-case scenario of a colorectal anastomotic leak. The patient underwent axillofemoral artery bypass and two-stage laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy without anastomosis. The postoperative course was uneventful, and he resumed his job within a month after the resection.

Conclusions

Although collateral flow from the inferior mesenteric artery is rare in patients with peripheral artery disease, a few case reports have described fatal lower-limb ischemia following anterior resection. The perioperative multidisciplinary evaluation enabled us to understand the patient’s condition and risks, and allowed successful cancer treatment without ischemia of the lower limbs.

Performance of Indocyanine Green Fluorescence for Detecting Lymph Node Metastasis in Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

PURPOSE

The use of sentinel lymph node dissection in several cancers has been gaining attention with the emergence of indocyanine green fluorescence. We performed a meta-analysis to assess the diagnostic performance of indocyanine green fluorescence in detecting lymph node metastasis in prostate cancer patients.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Cochrane Library, and SCOPUS on November 30, 2020, to identify eligible studies. Studies were eligible if they investigated the diagnostic performance of indocyanine green fluorescence before pelvic lymph node dissection in prostate cancer patients and reported the number of true positives, false positives, false negatives, and true negatives on lymph node-based analysis in comparison to histopathologic findings in the dissected specimen.

RESULTS

Our systematic review covered 11 studies published between 2011 and 2020, with 519 patients, and our meta-analysis included 9 studies with 479 patients. Based on lymph node analysis of indocyanine green fluorescence, the results showed pooled sensitivity and specificity at 0.75 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.49 to 0.90) and 0.66 (95% CI 0.61 to 0.70), respectively. The diagnostic odds ratio was 6.0 (95%CI 2 to 21). Several lymphatic drainage routes also showed sentinel lymph nodes localized outside the ordinal pelvic lymph node template.

CONCLUSIONS

We noted relatively low diagnostic performance for lymph node metastasis, suggesting that indocyanine fluorescence may not currently be a viable alternative to pelvic lymph node dissection in prostate cancer patients. However, this technique shows novel lymphatic drainage routes and underscores the importance of lymph nodes not removed in ordinary dissection.

Indocyanine green fluorescence imaging for evaluating blood flow in the reconstructed conduit after esophageal cancer surgery

We investigated the effectiveness of indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence blood flow imaging of the gastric conduit to evaluate anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy. We identified 19 articles using the PRISMA standard for systematic reviews. The more recent studies reported attempts at objective quantification of ICG fluorescence imaging, rather than qualitative assessment. Anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy occurred in 0-33% of the patients who underwent ICG fluorescence imaging. According to the six studies that compared the incidence of anastomotic leakage in the ICG group and the control group, it ranged from 0 to 18.3% in the ICG group and from 0 to 25.2% in the control group, respectively. Overall, the incidence of anastomotic leakage in the ICG group (8.4%) was lower than that in the control group (18.5%). Although the incidence of anastomotic leakage was as high as 43.1% in patients who did not undergo any intraoperative intervention for poor blood flow, it was only 24% in patients who underwent intraoperative intervention. This systematic review revealed that ICG fluorescence imaging may be a crucial adjunctive tool for reducing anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy, suggesting that it should be performed during esophageal reconstruction.

Long-term results of fluorescence and indigo carmine blue dye-navigated sentinel lymph node biopsy

BACKGROUND

Sentinel lymph node biopsy is widely applied for the management of clinically node-negative breast cancer, and a radioisotope with a blue dye are most often used as tracers. Fluorescence of indocyanine green could also potentially be used as tracer. This study aimed to demonstrate the long-term survival results of fluorescence-guided sentinel lymph node biopsy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with clinically node-negative breast cancer who underwent surgery as initial treatment were included in this study. Both fluorescence of indocyanine green and indigo carmine blue dye were used as tracers. Axillary lymph node dissection was omitted unless metastasis was pathologically proven in sentinel nodes. Breast cancer recurrence and death were recorded and prognostic factors were identified using disease-free survival and overall survival data.

RESULTS

A total of 565 patients were analyzed. There were 14 (2.5%) patients whose sentinel nodes could not be identified, yielding an identification rate of 97.5%. Axillary dissection was performed in 90 patients. Forty-three recurrences including 6 ipsilateral axilla recurrence and 13 deaths were observed during the median 83 months of follow-up period. Seven-year disease-free and overall survival were 92.4% and 97.3%, respectively. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that pre-menopausal status and invasive lobular carcinoma were significant unfavorable prognostic factors of disease-free survival. Half of ipsilateral axilla recurrences occurred within 5 years after surgery and these recurrences were correlated with inappropriate adjuvant therapy.

CONCLUSION

Fluorescence-guided sentinel lymph node biopsy demonstrated favorable prognostic results and could be alternative to the radioisotope for clinically node-negative breast cancer.

Association between indocyanine green fluorescence blood flow speed in the gastric conduit wall and superior mesenteric artery calcification: predictive significance for anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy

BACKGROUND

Near-infrared fluorescence using indocyanine green (ICG) has been applied as a real-time navigation tool to observe blood flow in gastric conduit wall after esophagectomy. Atherosclerosis might impair the blood flow of the systemic organs. The aim of the study was to investigate the significances of ICG blood flow speed in the gastric conduit wall and atherosclerotic calcification for the prediction of anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy.

METHODS

The 109 esophageal cancer patients were prospectively enrolled. ICG fluorescence blood flow speed in the gastric conduit wall and abdominal aortic calcification index (ACI), celiac artery (CA) calcification, and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) calcification were determined. Then, the correlation between ICG fluorescence blood flow speed and anastomotic leakage as well as ACI, CA, and SMA calcification were evaluated.

RESULTS

Anastomotic leakage occurred in 15 patients. ACI ranged from 0 to 65. CA calcification and SMA calcification were present in 25 and 12 patients. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that ICG fluorescence blood flow speed in the gastric conduit wall of 2.07 cm/s or less (P < 0.001) and SMA calcification (P = 0.026) were the significant independent predictors of anastomotic leakage. Only SMA calcification was significantly associated with ICG fluorescence blood flow speed in the gastric conduit wall (P = 0.026).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that ICG fluorescence blood flow speed in the gastric conduit wall can predict anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy and microvascular perfusion of capillary vessels of the gastric conduit might be impaired by systemic atherosclerosis.

Successful treatment of superior mesenteric artery thrombosis via preoperative interventional radiology and surgery using indocyanine green fluorescence

We report a successful case that offered a symbolic therapeutic experience of interventional radiology and surgery collaboration for superior mesenteric artery thrombosis. A 70-year-old man presented with a chief complaint of sudden abdominal pain. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed superior mesenteric artery thrombosis. Interventional radiology was performed, and thrombotic occlusion was observed in the superior mesenteric artery trunk. The abdominal pain disappeared; however, after a while, the thrombus re-formed and the abdominal pain reappeared. Thus, emergency surgery was performed. Before surgery, thrombus aspiration was performed via interventional radiology as much as possible. During surgery, when the blood flow was evaluated using fluorescence with indocyanine green, a region of markedly poor blood flow was detected in the ileum, and the area was excised. The postoperative course was favorable. In this patient, it is possible that preoperative removal of the thrombus via interventional radiology minimized the ischemic area of the intestinal tract, and blood flow evaluation using indocyanine green allowed reliable excision of only the ischemic area. We believe that our case involved a treatment that exploited the advantages of both interventional radiology and surgery using indocyanine green fluorescence.

Usefulness and limitation of indocyanine green fluorescence for detection of peritoneal recurrence after hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma: a case report

Background

Peritoneal recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after hepatectomy occurs rarely, accounting for less than 1% of all recurrences. Reported causes of such dissemination include a history of rupture of the original HCC, needle biopsy or puncture treatment, and surgical procedures. There is no consensus on the optimal treatment strategy for peritoneal dissemination. There have been few reports on assisting resection of peritoneal dissemination by using indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence.

Case presentation

A 57-year-old man underwent posterior sectionectomy for HCC. Six months later, computed tomography revealed multiple nodules suspected of indicating peritoneal dissemination. Various preoperative imaging studies demonstrated only four nodules, the doubling time of the tumors being rapid at 22 days. The nodules were therefore resected. ICG (0.5 mg/kg) was injected intravenously 2 days before the procedure, enabling identification of the nodules by their brightness in the operative field under near-infrared lighting. A total of eight lesions were detected during the procedure and resected, some of which had not been identified by preoperative imaging studies. We diagnosed peritoneal dissemination of HCC based on the pathological findings and their similarity to those of the original HCC. We concluded that the recurrences were likely attributable to exposure of the tumor to the serosa at the time of the original operation.

Conclusions

Although ICG fluorescence is useful for identifying peritoneal dissemination of HCC, attention should be paid to the difficulty in detecting deep lesions and occurrence of false positives.

Intraoperative bronchial blood flow evaluation using indocyanine green fluorescence for bronchoplasty: A case report

•

Indocyanine green fluorescence (ICG-FL) detects blood flow of the bronchial artery.

•

ICG-FL is effective for blood flow evaluation after bronchial artery embolization.

•

Bronchial blood flow evaluation may reduce the risk of anastomotic leakage.

Introduction and importance

Blood flow evaluation of bronchial arteries using indocyanine green fluorescence (ICG-FL) is rarely reported during pulmonary resection. We present the case of a patient with bronchiectasis and a history of bronchial artery embolization (BAE) for hemoptysis. Bronchial artery blood flow was evaluated using ICG-FL during lobectomy with bronchoplasty.

Case presentation

A 63-year-old woman presented with right middle lobe bronchiectasis (due to nontuberculous mycobacteriosis) and repeated hemoptysis, which had previously been corrected each time with hemostasis by BAE. Bronchoscopy revealed a swollen blood vessel proximal to the right middle lobe bronchus that was suspected of being the origin of bleeding. Right middle lobectomy with bronchoplasty was performed to prevent hemoptysis. ICG-FL was used to detect the patency of the right bronchial arteries, and the arteries surrounding the right middle lobe bronchus were ligated. The proximal side of the right middle lobe bronchus was cut in a deep wedge shape, and the bronchus was anastomosed. ICG-FL revealed that the blood supply was maintained at the bronchial anastomosis. No bronchial anastomotic leakage was observed after the surgery.

Clinical discussion

The key to successful bronchoplasty is the maintenance of blood flow. Bronchial artery blood flow theoretically decreases after BAE. In this case, ICG-FL was able to detect bronchial artery patency before cutting the bronchus as well as the maintenance of blood flow at the bronchial anastomosis after bronchoplasty.

Conclusion

Intraoperative blood flow evaluation of the bronchus using ICG-FL may reduce the risk of bronchial anastomotic leakage caused by ischemia after bronchoplasty.

A visual quantification of tissue distinction in robotic transabdominal lateral adrenalectomy: comparison of indocyanine green and conventional views

BACKGROUND

Recent studies have reported the feasibility of indocyanine green fluorescence imaging of adrenal tumors to guide dissection. Although the adrenal has been reported to concentrate the dye more than surrounding tissues, the amount of tissue distinction and how this compares with conventional vision has not been quantified before. The aim of this study is to quantify this distinction using color analysis.

METHODS

This was an institutional review board-approved retrospective study. By excluding adrenal cortical carcinoma, metastasis and pheochromocytoma, video recordings of 50 patients who underwent robotic transabdominal lateral adrenalectomy with indocyanine green (ICG) imaging for adrenocortical tumors between August 2015 and May 2018 were reviewed. Using a color analysis software, the pixel intensity of adrenal tumors versus adjacent retroperitoneal tissues was calculated for conventional red, green and blue, as well as indocyanine green (ICG) scales. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA.

RESULTS

A total of 50 patients underwent unilateral robotic transabdominal lateral adrenalectomy. All procedures were completed robotically without a conversion to laparoscopy or open. Morbidity was 4%. Measured pixel intensity of adrenal tumors was higher than adjacent retroperitoneal tissues for all conventional color and ICG modes (p < 0.0001), with the gradient being more pronounced for ICG green versus conventional red, green and blue modes.

CONCLUSIONS

To our knowledge this is the first study attempting to encode tissue planes in robotic adrenalectomy. The results show that the visual contrast distinction observed between adrenal and adjacent retroperitoneal tissues can be quantified using pixel intensity. ICG enabled the distinction of tissue planes with a wider gradient compared to conventional RGB view, quantifying its subjective benefits reported in prior studies.

Indocyanine green fluorescence detects the blood flow of the bronchial anastomosis for bronchoplasty "case report"

Introduction

Bronchoplasty is widely accepted as a standard technique with a high degree of difficulty in maintaining a surgical margin for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The key to the success of the bronchial anastomosis is both tension and the blood flow. However, local tension is inconsistent with blood distribution.

Case presentation

Operative finding of the right upper bronchoplasty after chemoradiotherapyshowed clear green staining of the upper bronchus, and afterwards, a membranous area of the truncus intermedius. The blood supply of the bronchial anastomosis judged to be enough.

Discussion

Indocyanine green imaging (ICG) can help a scheduled operation be performed safely, especially in extreme situations where there is concern about the blood supply during bronchoplasty.

Conclusion

This report describes a first case concerning the blood distribution of the bronchial anastomosis for bronchoplasty after induction therapy under fluorescence navigation.

•

Our intraoperative findings clearly showed both the green staining of the upper bronchus and later a membranous area of the truncus intermedius.

•

Indocyanine green fluorescence detects the blood flow of the bronchial anastomosis for bronchoplasty.

•

These marvelous findings lead a planned operation safely in the extreme, especially in extreme situations where there is concern about the blood supply during bronchoplasty.

Tricks and traps of ICG endoscopy for effectively applying endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery to pituitary adenoma

Differentiating tumor from normal pituitary gland is very important for achieving complete resection without complications in endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery (ETSS) for pituitary adenoma. To facilitate such surgery, we investigated the utility of indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence endoscopy as a tool in ETSS. Twenty-four patients with pituitary adenoma were enrolled in the study and underwent ETSS using ICG endoscopy. After administering 12.5 mg of ICG twice an operation with an interval > 30 min, times from ICG administration to appearance of fluorescence on vital structures besides the tumor were measured. ICG endoscopy identified vital structures by the phasic appearance of fluorescent signals emitted at specific consecutive elapsed times. Elapsed times for internal carotid arteries did not differ according to tumor size. Conversely, as tumor size increased, elapsed times for normal pituitary gland were prolonged but those for the tumor were reduced. ICG endoscopy revealed a clear boundary between tumors and normal pituitary gland and enabled confirmation of no more tumor. ICG endoscopy could provide a useful tool for differentiating tumor from normal pituitary gland by evaluating elapsed times to fluorescence in each structure. This method enabled identification of the boundary between tumor and normal pituitary gland under conditions of a low-fluorescence background, resulting in complete tumor resection with ETSS. ICG endoscopy will contribute to improve the resection rate while preserving endocrinological functions in ETSS for pituitary adenoma.

Adult axillary lymphangioma removal using indocyanine green fluorescence imaging system: A case report

•

Adult cystic lymphangioma is extremely rare.

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Diagnosis of lymphangioma is relatively easy based on the clinical image findings.

•

Complete surgical excision is the most effective treatment for lymphangioma.

•

The ICG fluorescence imaging system is very useful for performing complete excision.

Introduction

Lymphangiomas are benign cystic tumors which arise from congenital malformations of the lymphatic system and are extremely rare in adulthood. We report a case of adult lymphangioma of the axilla that was removed after identifying the feeding lymphatic vessel using an indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging system.

Presentation of case

A 35-year old woman presented to our hospital with a rapidly growing mass on her left axilla. She had been pregnant once before and delivered at 34 years of age. Mammography, ultrasonography, and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a tumor that consisted of multiple cysts, which led to a diagnosis of cystic lymphangioma. The ICG fluorescence imaging system indicated that only one lymphatic vessel, which was completely removed with ligation of the feeding lymphatic vessel, was flowing to the tumor. An immunohistological study demonstrated that the cystic endothelia were positive for podoplanin (D2-40), a marker of lymphatic vessels.

Discussion

In addition to congenital factors, mechanical obstruction to lymphatic vessels by an external force, such as trauma or congestion of the lymphatic flow caused by increasing venous pressure during pregnancy or delivery might lead to lymphangioma in adulthood. Therefore, our patient’s pregnancy and delivery one year prior to discovery of the tumor seems to be the cause of her lymphangioma.

Conclusion

Based on our findings, we recommend the complete excision to successfully treat adult-onset lymphangioma. We also suggest that visualization with ICG fluorescence imaging system is very useful for detecting the feeding lymphatic vessel and performing complete excision of the lymphangioma.

Subtotal gastrectomy for gastric tube cancer using intraoperative indocyanine green fluorescence method. Int J Surg Case Rep. 2020;71:290-293. [PMID: 32480340 PMCID: PMC7264013 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2020.04.049]

INTRODUCTION

Currently, the frequency of evaluating the flow of a reconstructed gastric tube using indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence has been increasing. However, it has been difficult to decide on the operation method for patients with gastric tube cancer (GTC). We herein report a case in which ICG was effective in a patient with resection of GTC.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

An 83-year-old man underwent subtotal esophagectomy with gastric tube reconstruction via the retrosternal route for esophageal cancer and right hemicolectomy for ascending colon cancer 16 years earlier. Postoperatively, the proximal part of the gastric tube had poor blood flow. Therefore, the patient underwent proximal-side resection of the gastric tube. Thereafter, free jejunal graft reconstruction was performed. The patient had not developed recurrence at that point. Recently, the patient visited the hospital complaining of nausea and chest discomfort. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a type 0-IIa + IIc lesion located around the pylorus. A biopsy showed adenocarcinoma. Based on these findings, the patient was diagnosed with gastric tube cancer (cT1bN0M0StageI). The invasion depth of the cancer was predicted to be widespread submucosal invasion. Therefore, the patient underwent surgery. Intraoperatively, we evaluated the flow of the gastric tube after clamping the right gastroepiploic artery using ICG fluorescence. As a result, the flow of the gastric tube was deemed insufficient. Consequently, subtotal gastrectomy was performed with preservation of the right gastroepiploic artery via Roux-en-Y reconstruction.

DISCUSSION

ICG fluorescence is useful for evaluating the flow of the gastric tube helping to decide the operating method.

CONCLUSION

We herein report a case of subtotal gastrectomy for GTC using intraoperative ICG fluorescence.

Identifying Cystic Vein Perfusion Area Employing Indocyanine Green Fluorescence Imaging during Laparoscopic Extended Cholecystectomy for Clinical T2 Gallbladder Cancer

We present an original surgical technique for identifying the perfusion area of the cystic vein with indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging and laparoscopic extended cholecystectomy with lymphadenectomy for a 56-year-old woman with diagnosis of clinical T2 gallbladder cancer (GBC). First, we encircled Calot's triangle using the Glissonean approach from the ventral side of the gallbladder plate and then taped the hilar Glissonean pedicles; these were temporally clamped, and ICG was injected into the vein. The perfusion area of the cystic vein was scrutinized, specifically the stained area of the hepatic parenchyma was marked, and extended cholecystectomy was performed along the resection line. Subsequently, we performed lymphadenectomy of the hepatoduodenal ligament to complete the operation. A postoperative histopathological examination revealed moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma with pathological T1bN0M0. Although extended cholecystectomy is currently recommended for clinical T2 GBC, there is no consensus on the definition of the gallbladder bed, and the ideal extent of hepatic resection has, therefore, not yet been determined. In addition, gallbladder bed resection with 2–3 cm of surgical margin is an empirical procedure that lacks scientific verification. Regarding anatomical features, the cystic vein sometimes drains directly into the anterior branch of the portal vein, penetrating the gallbladder plate and Laennec's capsule of the anterior Glissonean pedicle. To address this background, we have developed a technique to identify the perfusion area of the cystic vein to determine the extent of hepatic parenchyma that should be resected during laparoscopic extended cholecystectomy for clinical T2 GBC.

Evaluation of Anastomosis With ICG Fluorescence Method Using VISERA ELITE2 During Laparoscopic Colorectal Cancer Surgery

AIM

In colorectal cancer surgery, the efficacy of intestinal blood flow evaluation with the indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence method using the VISERA ELITE2 system was investigated.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Participants in this study comprised 50 patients who underwent elective laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery at the Department of Surgery, the Jikei Daisan Hospital. With the ICG fluorescence method, whether it was necessary to change the intestinal transection line for anastomosis was evaluated.

RESULTS

For three cases of rectal cancer, the oral transection line determined from macroscopic observation was judged to offer insufficient blood flow according to the ICG fluorescence method. The transection line for anastomosis was changed according to fluorescence. None of these cases showed complications.

CONCLUSION

The ICG fluorescence method may allow safe anastomosis in colorectal surgery for cancer.

The Application of Indocyanine Green (ICG) Staining Technique During Robotic-Assisted Right Hepatectomy: with Video

INTRODUCTION

The application of indocyanine green (icg) properties in the field of HPB surgery is gaining momentum. The adoption of the staining technique for the visualization of hepatic liver parenchyma is still preliminary.

METHODS

We performed a 1:1 case- matched comparison among 20 patients who underwent robotic liver resection with or without the application of icg fluorescence.

RESULTS

The icg enabled the reduction of postoperative liver abscess and bile leakage rate. The staining technique was not time-consuming and provided excellent enhancement of liver transection line.

CONCLUSION

The routine use of icg-fluorescence could potentially reduce the postoperative complications during robotic liver surgery.

indocyanine green fluorescence, in combination with blue dye for sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer

Background

This preliminary study aimed to examine the feasibility of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) vs. indocyanine green fluorescence (ICG), combined with blue dye in patients with breast cancer.

Methods

This was a retrospective study of consecutive female patients with invasive stage I-III (based on pre-operative physical examination and imaging) primary breast cancer at the Peking Union Medical College Hospital between 01/2013 and 01/2015 who underwent preoperative SLNB by ICG + blue dye or CEUS + blue dye. The numbers of detected SLNs, detection rates, and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were compared between the two groups.

Results

A total of 443 patients were included. The detection rates of SLNs in the CEUS + blue dye and ICG + blue dye groups were 98.4 and 98.1%, respectively (P = 0.814). The average numbers of SLNs detected per patient showed no significant difference between the two groups (3.06 ± 1.33 and 3.12 ± 1.31 in the CEUS + blue dye and ICG + blue dye groups, respectively; P = 0.659). After a median follow-up of 46 months, five patients in the CEUS + blue dye group and 15 in the ICG + blue dye group had recurrence. RFS rates showed no significant difference (P = 0.55).

Conclusion

This preliminary study suggests that CEUS + blue dye and ICG + blue dye are both feasible for SLN detection in breast cancer.

Real-Time Fluorescence Vessel Navigation Using Indocyanine Green During Laparoscopic Colorectal Cancer Surgery

BACKGROUND/AIM

Indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence technique is known to help visualize blood vessels. The efficacy of real-time fluorescence vessel navigation (FVN) using ICG for ligation of the inferior mesenteric vein (IMV) and left colic artery (LCA) during laparoscopic left colorectal cancer surgery was investigated.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Participants were 59 patients who underwent laparoscopic left colorectal cancer surgery from February 2017 to November 2018, and were divided into groups: i) with FVN (FVN+, n=21) and ii) without FVN (FVN-, n=38). Groups were compared for the time it took to ligate their IMV and LCA.

RESULTS

The results are expressed as median values. The time to ligate the IMV and LCA was significantly shorter for FVN+ (230 seconds; range 126-346) than for FVN- (417.5 seconds; range 137-1327) (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Real-time FVN using ICG shortened the times for IMV and LCA ligation. This was enabled by clear visualization of the direction of the bloodstream flow inside the vessels. This technique simplifies vessel ligation and safer laparoscopic surgery for left colorectal cancer.

Central pancreatic body-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic head cancer following a combined total gastrectomy and distal pancreatectomy: a case report

Background

Following a total pancreatectomy and a total gastrectomy procedure, patients often present with nutritional and diabetes-related disorders, along with a corresponding decrease in their quality of life. Consequently, an appropriate surgical procedure should be selected, with which an R0 resection can be achieved while conserving optimum pancreatic function, in order to prevent adverse sequelae.

Case presentation

We present a case of a 66-year-old female, with a history of primary gastric cancer, for which, she underwent total gastrectomy combined with a distal pancreatectomy, 21 years ago. She presented to us with a primary cancer of the head of the pancreas. We performed a central pancreatic body-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy, in order to conserve the pancreatic function. Since the splenic artery had already been resected in the earlier surgery, conserving the blood flow to the preserved pancreatic body was an important concern. By utilizing the techniques of preoperative angiography and intraoperative indocyanine green fluorescence imaging, the pancreatic body could be accurately resected while leaving its vascular supply intact and undamaged. Thus, the patient’s pancreatic endocrine function could be preserved.

Conclusions

An accurate evaluation of the pancreatic vascular supply enabled the operating surgeon to perform a safe, central pancreatic body-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy, even in patients who have undergone a combined total gastrectomy along with a distal pancreatectomy.

Application of indocyanine green fluorescence endoscopic system in transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary tumors

BACKGROUND

For the precise removal of pituitary tumors, preserving the surrounding normal structures, we need real-time intraoperative information on tumor location, margins, and surrounding structures. The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefits of a new intraoperative real-time imaging modality using indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence through an endoscopic system during transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) for pituitary tumors.

METHODS

Between August 2013 and October 2014, 20 patients with pituitary and parasellar region tumors underwent TSS using the ICG fluorescence endoscopic system. We used a peripheral vein bolus dose of 6.25 mg/injection of ICG, started with a time counter, and examined how each tissue type increased and decreased in fluorescence through time.

RESULTS

A total of 33 investigations were performed for 20 patients: 9 had growth hormone secreting adenomas, 6 non-functioning pituitary adenomas, 3 Rathke's cleft cysts, 1 meningioma, and 1 pituicytoma. After the injection of ICG, the intensity of fluorescence of tumor and normal tissues under near-infrared light showed clear differences. We could differentiate tumor margins from adjacent normal tissues and define clearly the surrounding normal structures using the different fluorescent intensities time changes and tissue-specific fluorescence patterns.

CONCLUSIONS

The ICG endoscopic system is simple, user-friendly, quick, cost-effective, and reliable. The method offered real-time information during TSS to delimit pituitary and parasellar region tumor tissue from surrounding normal structures. This method can contribute to the improvement of total removal rates of tumors, reduction of complications after TSS, saving surgical time, and preserving endocrinological functions.

Two-Staged Frontal Bone Defect Reconstruction: Perioperative Assessment of Scalp Vascularization Using Near-Infrared Indocyanine Green Video Angiography (Visionsense Iridium)

BACKGROUND

Head trauma and neurosurgical-related osteomyelitis are common causes of cranial bone defect. Even though cranioplasty is considered a safe and well-consolidated procedure, there are still some issues about the flap's vascularization assessment. In this paper we describe a 2-staged cranioplasty procedure, focusing on the perioperative evaluation of the skin flap vascularization. Our goal is to assess if the skin flap's perfusion measurement with indocyanine green fluorescence can be considered a reliable method to predict good outcome in cranioplasties.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 50-year-old patient presented with a wide frontal bone defect due to a prior surgery-related osteomyelitis. During the first operation, a tissue expander was placed under the scalp in order to grant an appropriate skin stretching. During the second operation the defect was repaired with a custom-made prosthesis after tissue expander removal. During all procedures, vascular integrity of the skin flap was intraoperatively assessed by means of indocyanine green fluorescence.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical procedures were well tolerated; at 1 year of follow-up the cosmetic defect was unremarkable. Indocyanine green fluorescence can be a good aid to predict the probability of the skin flap survival by measuring its perfusion.

ICG easily detects not only the segmental plane, but also the course and blood distribution of the bronchial artery"case report"

Introduction

Sublobar resection has become an acceptable alternative to lobectomy in patients with early-stage lung cancer. Most notable among these approaches is indocyanine green fluorescence (ICG) imaging.

Case presentation

Operative finding showed clear green staining of the left upper lobe, S6, superior pulmonary vein, and inferior PV under fluorescence navigation. Soon, the bronchial artery of right lower bronchus showed clear green staining. Next, the whole right lower bronchus is deeply colored green.

Discussion

ICG imaging can lead a planned operation safely in the extreme, especially for situations of special concern for blood supply of the bronchial stump such as pneumonectomy, bronchoplasty and right lower lobectomy.

Conclusion

This report describes a first case concerning the course and blood distribution of the bronchial artery using ICG injection under fluorescence navigation.

•

ICG fluorescence easily detects not only the segmental plane, but also the course and blood distribution of the bronchial artery at an unexpected moment.

•

These marvelous findings lead a planned operation safely in the extreme, especially for situations of special concern for blood supply of the bronchial stump.

[Robotic approach to hepatobiliary surgery. German version]

Robot-assisted hepatobiliary surgery has been steadily growing in recent years. It represents an alternative to the open and laparoscopic approaches in selected patients. Endowristed instruments and enhanced visualization provide important advantages in terms of selective bleeding control, microsuturing, and dissection. Cholecystectomies and minor hepatectomies are being performed with comparable results to open and laparoscopic surgery. Even complex procedures, such as major and extended hepatectomies, can have excellent outcomes, in expert hands. The addition of indocyanine green fluorescence provides an additional advantage for recognition of the vascular and biliary anatomy. Future innovations will allow for expanding its use and indications. Robotic surgery has become a very important component of modern minimally invasive surgery and the development of new robotic technology will facilitate a broader adoption of this technique.

Model and methods to assess hepatic function from indocyanine green fluorescence dynamical measurements of liver tissue

The indocyanine green (ICG) clearance, presented as plasma disappearance rate is, presently, a reliable method to estimate the hepatic "function". However, this technique is not instantaneously available and thus cannot been used intra-operatively (during liver surgery). Near-infrared spectroscopy enables to assess hepatic ICG concentration over time in the liver tissue. This article proposes to extract more information from the liver intensity dynamics by interpreting it through a dedicated pharmacokinetics model. In order to account for the different exchanges between the liver tissues, the proposed model includes three compartments for the liver model (sinusoids, hepatocytes and bile canaliculi). The model output dependency to parameters is studied with sensitivity analysis and solving an inverse problem on synthetic data. The estimation of model parameters is then performed with in-vivo measurements in rabbits (El-Desoky et al. 1999). Parameters for different liver states are estimated, and their link with liver function is investigated. A non-linear (Michaelis-Menten type) excretion rate from the hepatocytes to the bile canaliculi was necessary to reproduce the measurements for different liver conditions. In case of bile duct ligation, the model suggests that this rate is reduced, and that the ICG is stored in the hepatocytes. Moreover, the level of ICG remains high in the blood following the ligation of the bile duct. The percentage of retention of indocyanine green in blood, which is a common test for hepatic function estimation, is also investigated with the model. The impact of bile duct ligation and reduced liver inflow on the percentage of ICG retention in blood is studied. The estimation of the pharmacokinetics model parameters may lead to an evaluation of different liver functions.

Near-infrared dye marking for thoracoscopic resection of small-sized pulmonary nodules: comparison of percutaneous and bronchoscopic injection techniques

BACKGROUND

Minimally invasive video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for small-sized pulmonary nodules is challenging, and image-guided preoperative localisation is required. Near-infrared indocyanine green fluorescence is capable of deep tissue penetration and can be distinguished regardless of the background colour of the lung; thus, indocyanine green has great potential for use as a near-infrared fluorescent marker in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

METHODS

Thirty-seven patients with small-sized pulmonary nodules, who were scheduled to undergo video-assisted thoracoscopic wedge resection, were enrolled in this study. A mixture of diluted indocyanine green and iopamidol was injected into the lung parenchyma as a marker, using either computed tomography-guided percutaneous or bronchoscopic injection techniques. Indications and limitations of the percutaneous and bronchoscopic injection techniques for marking nodules with indocyanine green fluorescence were examined and compared.

RESULTS

In the computed tomography-guided percutaneous injection group (n = 15), indocyanine green fluorescence was detected in 15/15 (100%) patients by near-infrared thoracoscopy. A small pneumothorax occurred in 3/15 (20.0%) patients, and subsequent marking was unsuccessful after a pneumothorax occurred. In the bronchoscopic injection group (n = 22), indocyanine green fluorescence was detected in 21/22 (95.5%) patients. In 6 patients who underwent injection marking at 2 different lesion sites, 5/6 (83.3%) markers were successfully detected.

CONCLUSION

Either computed tomography-guided percutaneous or bronchoscopic injection techniques can be used to mark pulmonary nodules with indocyanine green fluorescence. Indocyanine green is a safe and easily detectable fluorescent marker for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Furthermore, the bronchoscopic injection approach enables surgeons to mark multiple lesion areas with less risk of causing a pneumothorax.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

UMIN-CTR R000027833 accepted by ICMJE. Registered 5 January 2013.

Successful treatment of non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia with indocyanine green fluorescence and open-abdomen management

Non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI), which can lead to multifocal and segmental intestinal necrosis without demonstrable occlusion in the main mesenteric artery, is associated with extremely high mortality. Because these intestinal ischemic changes can progress, it is difficult to make a definitive determination intraoperatively as to whether resection of damaged intestine is required. A 62-year-old man who underwent esophagectomy for advanced cervicothoracic esophageal cancer complained of severe abdominal pain on postoperative day 4. Enhanced computed tomography revealed pneumatosis intestinalis in the wall of the small bowel. Emergency laparotomy revealed ischemia in segments of the small intestine suspicious for NOMI. Intraoperative evaluation of the mesenteric and bowel circulation was performed under indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence. Although the ischemic bowel segments were visible, open-abdomen management was undertaken so that mesenteric and bowel circulation could be reexamined 24 h later. During the second-look operation, the small intestine was able to be preserved because intestinal perfusion was confirmed on revisualization under ICG fluorescence. The present case demonstrated that open-abdomen management and repeat visualization under ICG fluorescence are effective in preserving damaged intestine during surgery for NOMI.

Intraoperative localization of the parathyroid glands with indocyanine green and Firefly(R) technology during BABA robotic thyroidectomy

BACKGROUND

It is unclear whether near-infrared (NIR) light-induced indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence can effectively identify, and thus permit the preservation of, parathyroid glands in bilateral axillo-breast approach (BABA) robotic thyroidectomy. This case-control study with a prospectively recruited consecutive series and a retrospectively selected control group assessed the usefulness of ICG with Firefly(R) technology to identify the parathyroid glands intraoperatively during BABA robotic thyroidectomy.

METHODS

All consecutive patients (N = 22) who were scheduled to undergo BABA robotic thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid carcinoma in December 2013-August 2015 and met the study eligibility criteria were recruited prospectively. ICG fluorescence was used with the Firefly system (NIR illuminator: 805 nm; filter: 825 nm) integrated in the da Vinci Si robot system to identify the lower parathyroid glands. Parathyroid hormone levels were recorded on postoperative days 0, 1, 2, and 14. Propensity score matching was used to identify an age-, gender-, tumor size-, and operation type-matched group of control patients who underwent BABA robotic thyroidectomy without the Firefly system. The two groups were compared in terms of parathyroid-related outcomes.

RESULTS

ICG fluorescence-mediated identification of the parathyroid and thyroid glands required on average (range) 203 ± 89 (125-331) and 207 ± 112 (130-356) s, respectively. The mean (range) fluorescence duration in these glands was 20.8 ± 6.0 (16.6-35.8) and 20.1 ± 7.3 (15.5-33.8) min, respectively. The ICG group had a significantly lower rate of incidental parathyroidectomy than the control group (0 vs. 15.9%, P = 0.048).

CONCLUSIONS

ICG with NIR light may feasibly and safely identify the parathyroid glands in BABA robotic thyroidectomy.

Microsurgical Resection of Cervical Spinal Cord Arteriovenous Malformations: Report of 6 Cases

OBJECTIVE

To summarize the experience in microsurgical resection of cervical spinal cord arteriovenous malformation (AVM).

METHODS

Six patients undergoing microsurgical resection of cervical intramedullary AVM in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, China, between March 2005 and March 2015 were reviewed retrospectively, and their clinical manifestations, imaging data, surgical treatment, and results of long-term follow-up were analyzed.

RESULTS

Of the 6 patients who underwent AVM resection, 2 had compact AVMs and 4 had diffuse AVMs. All 6 patients were reexamined with spinal magnetic resonance imaging within 48 hours after surgery, and 1 patient was examined with digital subtraction angiography. The average patient age was 40.7 ± 10.4 years (range, 29-60 years). Three patients had chronic onset, of whom 2 developed sensory disturbances and 1 had muscle weakness. The other 3 patients had acute onset, including 1 with sudden quadriplegia, 1 with idiopathic severe headache and altered consciousness, and 1 with idiopathic neck pain. The average duration of follow-up was 48.5 ± 38.9 months (range, 15-119 months). One patient experienced complete recovery, and the other 5 patients showed improvement. No patient exhibited deterioration.

CONCLUSION

Microsurgical resection of cervical intramedullary AVMs has obtained satisfactory clinical results. Preoperative magnetic resonance angiography, computed tomography angiography, and digital subtraction angiography are useful for evaluating the angioarchitecture, which is key to the success of surgery. Intraoperative indocyanine green fluorescence angiography is an important aid in the surgical treatment of spinal AVMs.

[Focus on methods for detection of sentinel nodes in breast cancer]

The sentinel node procedure (GS) is the recommended technique for axillary surgical exploration in localized breast cancer with no clinical or radiological lymph node involvement. This surgical technique is based on a dual isotope and colorimetric detection. Although it allows a significant reduction in morbidity compared to axillary dissection (CA), this procedure induces a number of organizational constraints, in particular for the radioisotope injection. Specially for this reason, other GS methods have emerged in recent years, some of which appear promising (detection by fluorescence and magnetic iron). The objective of this paper was to carry out a synthesis of the reference method of detection (radioisotope) GS and analyze the recent literature on new detection methods.

Visualization of the Stomach's Arterial Networks During Esophageal Surgery Using the HyperEye Medical System

AIM

The present study investigated the visualization of the arterial networks in the stomach (ANS) during gastric tube (GT) creation using indocyanine green fluorescence and the HyperEye Medical System (HEMS), and the feasibility of the HEMS-line-marking method (LMM).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We reviewed 51 consecutive patients who had undergone esophageal surgery with GT reconstruction. Patients for whom the HEMS was deployed after GT creation to confirm the anastomosed area's blood supply formed the control group (n=28). Patients for whom the HEMS was deployed before GT creation to confirm and mark the ANS border comprised the HEMS-LMM group (n=23).

RESULTS

The HEMS-LMM visualized the ANS border, and the leakage rate decreased from 17.9% to 4.4% (p=0.204).

CONCLUSION

The HEMS-LMM is safe and feasible for visualizing the blood supply border of the right gastroepiploic artery and the ANS before GT creation during esophageal surgery, and it might reduce leakage in esophageal surgery.