Low-dose indocyanine green fluorescence-navigated segmentectomy: prospective analysis of 20 cases and review of previous reports

Background: A technique of visualizing the demarcation line based with indocyanine green (ICG) was recently developed, and its utility was reported. We demonstrated the safety and utility of low-dose (5 mg/body) ICG fluorescence-navigated video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) segmentectomy. Methods: Patients who had undergone lung segmentectomy for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or small pulmonary metastasis were included in this study. ICG at 5 mg/body was rapidly injected into the peripheral vein, and the lung was observed using near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence thoracoscopy. We evaluated the identification rate of the demarcation line based on NIR fluorescence imaging with ICG and the perioperative outcomes. Results: Lung segmentectomy NIR fluorescence imaging with ICG was performed in 20 patients. The identification of the target segmental line was possible in 18 (90%) of the 20 patients. The median duration of chest tube placement was one day, and the median length of postoperative stay was 8 days. Complications occurred in 5 (25%) of the 20 patients. All cases were prolonged air leak that required pleurodesis. There were no complications resulting from NIR fluorescence imaging with ICG. Conclusions: NIR fluorescence imaging with ICG is safe and useful for the identification of the demarcation line for lung segmentectomy. Low-dose ICG might achieve a sufficient rate of identification of the segmental line.