Near-Infrared Indocyanine Green-Enhanced Fluorescence and Evaluation of the Bowel Microperfusion During Robotic Colorectal Surgery: a Retrospective Original Paper.

BACKGROUND: Leakage of the anastomosis after colorectal surgery is a severe complication, and one of the most important causes is poor vascular supply. However, a microvascular deficit is often not detectable during surgery under white light. Near-infrared indocyanine green (ICG)-enhanced fluorescence may be useful for assessing microvascular deficits and conceivably preventing anastomotic leakage. OBJECTIVES: This paper presents a preliminary retrospective case series on robotic colorectal surgery. The aim is to evaluate the feasibility, safety and role of near-infrared ICG-enhanced ?uorescence for the intraoperative assessment of peri-anastomotic tissue vascular perfusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From among more than 164 robotic colorectal cases performed, we retrospectively analyzed 28 that were all performed by the same surgeon (PCG) using near-infrared ICG-enhanced fluorescence technology: 16 left colectomies (57.1%), 8 rectal resections (28.6%), 3 right colectomies (10.8%) and 1 pancolectomy (3.6%). RESULTS: The rates of conversion, intraoperative complications, dye allergic reaction and mortality were all 0%. In two cases (7.1%)-1 left and 1 right colectomy-the level of the anastomosis was changed intraoperatively after ICG showed ischemic tissues. Despite the application of ICG, one anastomotic leak (after left colectomy for a chronic recurrent sigmoid diverticulitis with pericolic abscess) was observed. CONCLUSIONS: ICG technology may help to determine when to intraoperatively change the anastomotic level to a safer location. In our case series, ICG results led to a change in the level of the anastomosis in 7.1% of the cases. Despite the use of ICG, we observed one leak. This may have been related to vascularization-independent causes (e.g., infection in this case) or may reflect a need for better standardization of this ICG technology. In particular, we need a way to objectively assess the ICG signal and the related risk of leakage. More randomized, prospective, well-powered trials are needed to unveil the full potential of this innovative surgical technology.