Laparoscopic cholecystectomy assisted by combined intravenous and intracholecystic fluorescent cholangiography: a case report

This case report describes a laparoscopic approach using fluorescence imaging guidance to treat gangrenous cholecystitis with perforation (GCP). A male patient in his early 60s presented with 3 days of right upper abdominal pain. Computed tomography and ultrasonography findings were consistent with a stone incarcerated in the gallbladder neck, GCP, and localized peritonitis. Percutaneous gallbladder drainage was initially performed, followed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy 7 days later, using combined intravenous and intracholecystic fluorescent cholangiography. This technique allowed visualization of the cystic and common bile ducts during surgery and enabled safe removal of the diseased gallbladder. The patient recovered well without complications, and reported no pain or discomfort at a 2-month follow-up.

Fluorescence cholangiography for laparoscopic cholecystectomy: how, when, and why? A single-center preliminary study

INTRODUCTION

Bile duct injuries avoidance is a key goal of biliary surgery. In this prospective study we evaluate the safety and feasibility of ICG fluorescent cholangiography during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) focusing on the optimization of timing and dose administration.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

From February to December 2022 fifty-four LC were performed with fluorescence imaging in our surgical department. 2.5 mg ICG were administered intravenously between 5 h and 24 h before surgery. Near-infrared fluorescent cholangiography (NIRF-C) was performed. Adequate fluorescence was evaluated by comparing agent accumulation in the gallbladder and the extrahepatic duct and the background of liver parenchyma.

RESULTS

Biliary anatomy was identified in all cases. Median time of ICG administration was 11 h previous surgery and three groups of patients were identified: group A receiving ICG 5-9 h, group B 10-14 h, group C 15-24 h before surgery. Peak contrast was gained in group B, with minimal fluorescence of liver parenchyma and more intense visibility of the biliary tract. Intraoperative cholangiogram was unnecessary in all cases.

CONCLUSION

Fluorescent cholangiography during LC is safe and feasible overcoming the limits of other techniques available. 2.5 mg ICG administered 10-14 h before surgery produces optimal outcomes for near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent cholangiography.

Clinical value of fluorescent cholangiography for the infraportal type of right posterior bile duct

BACKGROUND

The infraportal type of the right posterior bile duct (infraportal RPBD) is a well-known anatomical variation that increases the potential risk of intraoperative biliary injury. The aim of this study is to clarify the clinical value of fluorescent cholangiography during single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) for patients with infraportal RPBD.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Our procedure for SILC utilized the SILS-Port, and another 5-mm forceps was inserted via an umbilical incision. A laparoscopic fluorescence imaging system developed by Karl Storz Endoskope was utilized for fluorescent cholangiography. Between July 2010 and March 2022, 41 patients with infraportal RPBD underwent SILC. We conducted retrospective reviews of patient data, focusing on the clinical value of fluorescent cholangiography.

RESULTS

Thirty-one patients underwent fluorescent cholangiography during SILC, but the remaining ten did not. Only one patient who did not undergo fluorescent cholangiography developed an intraoperative biliary injury. The detectability of infraportal RPBD before and during the dissection of Calot's triangle was 16.1% and 45.2%, respectively. These visible infraportal RPBDs were characterized as connections to the common bile duct. The confluence pattern of infraportal RPBD significantly influenced its detectability during the dissection of Calot's triangle (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The application of fluorescent cholangiography can lead to safe SILC, even for patients with infraportal RPBD. Its benefit is emphasized when infraportal RPBD is connected to the common bile duct.

[Modern possibilities of fluorescent imaging in liver surgery]

The article presents a literature review of modern methods of fluorescent navigation in liver surgery. The technique of tumor «staining», mapping of liver segments, fluorescent cholangiography is covered. The own results of the use of indocyanine green in liver surgery are presented.

Application of Intraoperative Fluorescence Imaging with Indocyanine Green in the Difficult Gallbladder: A Comparative Study between Indocyanine Green-Guided Fluorescence Cholangiography and Conventional Surgery

Background: In the difficult gallbladder, the rate of bile duct injury (BDI) remains high. To lessen iatrogenic biliary injury, we attempted to utilize indocyanine green (ICG)-guided fluorescence cholangiography during surgery to illuminate the extrahepatic biliary tract. Materials and Methods: According to admission criteria, 38 patients were diagnosed with difficult gallbladder and underwent percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD). Consecutive patients who underwent ICG-assisted laparoscopic biliary surgery (n = 18, ICG group) or conventional laparoscopic biliary surgery (n = 20, white light [WL group) were enrolled in this study. ICG group received ICG fluorescent cholangiography via PTGBD tube during operation; 16 cases of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and 2 cases of LC plus laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LC+LCBDE) were performed by fluorescent laparoscopy. In the WL group, 16 cases of LC, 1 case of laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy (LSC), and 3 cases of LC+LCBDE were performed under white light without ICG. Result: The biliary system was successfully established in the ICG group. Compared with the WL group, the anatomy of the Calot's triangle with severe abdominal adhesion or local inflammatory edema was more clearly displayed by fluorescence. Laparoscopic surgery was completed in both groups without conversion to laparotomy. There were no significant differences in surgery-related complications (P = .232) and postoperative hospital stay (P = .074) between the two groups. However, compared with the WL group, the ICG group had less intraoperative blood loss (P = .002) and shorter operation duration (P = .006). Conclusion: ICG fluorescence cholangiography has good clinical application value in the difficult gallbladder, which can avoid iatrogenic BDI, reduce surgery-related complications and intraoperative blood loss, and shorten the duration of surgery.

Fluorescent Cholangiography in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy and the Use in Pediatric Patients

Background: Common bile duct (CBD) injury is one of the most serious complications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy and carries an incidence of 0.3%-0.7%. Recently indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescent cholangiography (FC) has been used as an adjunct to identify the biliary tract during adult laparoscopic cholecystectomy, allowing intraoperative identification of biliary anatomy. The objective of this article is to show its successful use in pediatric laparoscopic cholecystectomies. Method: From July 1, 2017, to November 30, 2018, surgeons at John R. Oishei Children's Hospital and Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo have been utilizing ICG-FC as an adjunct in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Thirty-one patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy had 1 mL of dilute ICG (2.5 mg) injected intravenously in the operating room (OR) before trocar placement. Demographics, intraoperative details, and subjective surgeon data were recorded for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy cases involving ICG. We hypothesize that use of ICG-FC in the pediatric and adolescent patient population is a safe, reliable, and reproducible adjunct for identification of the biliary tree. Secondary outcomes were to identify rate of biliary anatomy identification, utilization ease, and operative times while using ICG technology in pediatric patients. Results: ICG-FC was used in 31 pediatric laparoscopic cholecystectomies performed by 5 surgeons at our institution. Ages ranged from 6 to 18 years. In all cases, the cystic duct-CBD junction was visualized while performing dissection of the triangle of Calot. No intraoperative complications occurred. Conclusions: ICG-FC provides a noninvasive real-time visualization of the extrahepatic biliary tree in children and adolescents. We demonstrate that ICG-FC can successfully be used as an adjunct in pediatric patients and has the potential to facilitate with the dissection and minimize risk of bile duct injuries during pediatric laparoscopic cholecystectomies.

Intraoperative fluorescent cholangiography using indocyanine green for laparoscopic fenestration of nonparasitic huge liver cysts

Bile duct injury is one of the known serious complications of laparoscopic fenestration for nonparasitic liver cysts. Herein, we report the case of a huge liver cyst for which we performed laparoscopic fenestration using intraoperative fluorescent cholangiography with indocyanine green. A 71-year-old woman with abdominal distention was referred to our hospital. CT demonstrated a 17 × 11.5-cm simple cyst replacing the right lobe of the liver, so laparoscopic fenestration was performed. Although the biliary duct could not be detected because of compression by the huge cyst, fluorescent cholangiography with indocyanine green through endoscopic naso-biliary drainage tube clearly delineated the intrahepatic bile duct in the remaining cystic wall. The patient had no complications at 3 months after surgery. Fluorescent cholangiography using indocyanine green is a safe and effective procedure to avoid bile duct injury during laparoscopic fenestration, especially in patients with a huge liver cyst.