Journal
SURGICAL ENDOSCOPY AND OTHER INTERVENTIONAL TECHNIQUES
Volume 37, Issue 11, Pages 8720-8727Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s00464-023-10258-9
Keywords
Esophagectomy; Indocyanine green; ICG; Fluorescence angiography; Gastric conduit perfusion; Anastomotic leaks
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
The study examined the impact of indocyanine green (ICYG) in a surgeon's decision-making during esophagectomy. The results showed that the use of ICYG did not significantly improve the rate of anastomotic leaks, but in 80% of cases, the surgeon's decision-making was impacted, resulting in additional resection of the gastric conduit.
Background Ischemia is known to be a major contributor for anastomotic leaks and indocyanine green (ICYG) fluorescence angiography has been utilized to assess perfusion. Experienced esophageal surgeons have clinically assessed the gastric conduit with acceptable outcomes for years. We sought to examine the impact of ICYG in a surgeon's decision-making during esophagectomy. Methods We queried a prospectively maintained database to identify patients who underwent robotic esophagectomy. Time to initial perfusion, time to maximum perfusion, and residual ischemia were measured and used as a guide to resection of residual stomach. During esophagectomy the surgeon identified the anticipated line of ischemic demarcation (LOD) prior to ICYG injection. The distance between the surgeon's LOD and ICYG LOD was measured. Results We identified 312 patients who underwent robotic esophagectomy, 251 without ICYG and 61 with ICGY. There were no differences in age, sex, race, body mass index, histology, stage, or neoadjuvant therapy use between groups. The incidence of anastomotic leak did not differ between groups (non-ICYG, 5.2% vs. ICYG, 6.6%), p = 0.67. The initial perfusion time was >= 10 s and max perfusion was > 25 s in all the patients in the ICYG that developed anastomotic leaks. All patients were noted to have at least 1 cm of residual gastric ischemia. Fifteen patients underwent independent surgeon evaluation of the ischemic LOD prior to ICYG. Differential distances were noted in 12 (80%) patients with a mean distance between surgical line of demarcation and ICYG LOD of 0.77 cm. Conclusion While the implementation of ICYG during esophagectomy demonstrates no significant improvements in anastomotic leak rates compared to historical controls, surgeon's decision-making is impacted in 80% of cases resulting in additional resection of the gastric conduit. Elevated times to initial perfusion and maximum perfusion were associated with increased gastric ischemia and anastomotic leaks. [GRAPHICS] .
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available