Near-infrared cholangiography with intragallbladder indocyanine green injection in minimally invasive cholecystectomy

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy(LC)remains one of the most commonly performed procedures in adult and paediatric populations.Despite the advances made in intraoperative biliary anatomy recognition,iatrogenic bile duct injuries during LC represent a fatal complication and consist an economic burden for healthcare systems.A series of methods have been proposed to prevent bile duct injury,among them the use of indocyanine green(ICG)fluorescence.The most commonly reported method of ICG injection is the intravenous administration,while literature is lacking studies investigating the direct intragallbladder ICG injection.This narrative mini-review aims to assess the potential applications,usefulness,and limitations of intragallbladder ICG fluorescence in LC.Authors screened the available international literature to identify the reports of intragallbladder ICG fluorescence imaging in minimally invasive cholecystectomy,as well as special issues regarding its use.Literature search retrieved four prospective cohort studies,three case-control studies,and one case report.In the three case-control studies selected,intragallbladder near-infrared cholangiography(NIRC)was compared with standard LC under white light,with intravenous administration of ICG for NIRC and with standard intraoperative cholangiography(IOC).In total,133 patients reported in the literature have been administered intragallbladder ICG administration for biliary mapping during LC.Literature includes several reports of intragallbladder ICG administration,but a standardized technique has not been established yet.Published data suggest that NIRC with intragallbladder ICG injection is a promising method to achieve biliary mapping,overwhelming limitations of IOC including intervention and radiation exposure,as well as the high hepatic parenchyma signal and time interval needed in intravenous ICG fluorescence.Evidence-based guidelines on the role of intragallbladder ICG fluorescence in LC require the assessment of further studies and multicenter data collection into large registries.

Don’t forget emergency surgery! Lessons to learn from elective indocyanine green-guided gastrointestinal interventions

Fluorescence-based imaging has found application in several fields of elective surgery,but there is still a lack of evidence in the literature about its use in the emergency setting.Clinical trials have consistently shown that indocyanine green(ICG)-guided surgery can dramatically reduce the risk of postoperative complic-ations,length of in-hospital stay and total healthcare costs in the elective setting.It is well-known that emergency surgery has a higher complication rate than its elective counterpart,therefore an impelling need for research studies to explore,validate and develop this issue has been highlighted.The present editorial aims to provide a critical overview of currently available applications and pitfalls of ICG fluorescence in abdominal emergencies.Furthermore,we evidenced how the experience of ICG-fluorescence in elective surgery might be of great help in implementing its use in acute situations.In the first paragraph we analyzed the tips and tricks of ICG-guided cancer surgery that might be exploited in acute cases.We then deepened the two most described topics in ICG-guided emergency surgery:Acute cholecystitis and intestinal ischemia,focusing on both the advantages and limitations of green-fluorescence application in these two fields.In emergency situations,ICG fluorescence demonstrates a promising role in preventing undue intestinal resections or their entity,facilitating the detection of intestinal ischemic zones,identifying biliary tree anatomy,reducing post-operative complications,and mitigating high mortality rates.The need to improve its application still exists,therefore we strongly believe that the elective and routinary use of the dye is the best way to acquire the necessary skills for emer-gency procedures.

Laparoscopic left hemihepatectomy guided by indocyanine green fluorescence: A cranial-dorsal approach

BACKGROUND Advancements in laparoscopic technology and a deeper understanding of intra-hepatic anatomy have led to the establishment of more precise laparoscopic hepatectomy(LH)techniques.The indocyanine green(ICG)fluorescence navi-gation technique has emerged as the most effective method for identifying hepatic regions,potentially overcoming the limitations of LH.While laparoscopic left hemihepatectomy(LLH)is a standardized procedure,there is a need for innova-tive strategies to enhance its outcomes.important anatomical markers,surgical skills,and ICG staining methods.METHODS Thirty-seven patients who underwent ICG fluorescence-guided LLH at Qujing Second People's Hospital between January 2019 and February 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.The cranial-dorsal approach was performed which involves dissecting the left hepatic vein cephalad,isolating the Arantius ligament,exposing the middle hepatic vein,and dissecting the parenchyma from the dorsal to the foot in order to complete the anatomical LLH.The surgical methods,as well as intra-and post-surgical data,were recorded and analyzed.Our hospital’s Medical Ethics Committee approved this study(Ethical review:2022-019-01).RESULTS Intraoperative blood loss during LLH was 335.68±99.869 mL and the rates of transfusion and conversion to laparotomy were 13.5%and 0%,respectively.The overall incidence of complications throughout the follow-up(median of 18 months;range 1-36 months)was 21.6%.No mortality or severe complications(level IV)were reported.CONCLUSION LLH has the potential to become a novel,standardized approach that can effectively,safely,and simply expose the middle hepatic vein and meet the requirements of precision surgery.

Indocyanine green:The guide to safer and more effective surgery

In this editorial we comment on the article by Kalayarasan and co-workers published in the recent issue of the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery.The authors present an interesting review on the use of indocyanine green fluo-rescence in different aspects of abdominal surgery.They also highlight future perspectives of the use of indocyanine green in mini-invasive surgery.Indo-cyanine green,used for fluorescence imaging,has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and is safe for use in humans.It can be administered in-travenously or intra-arterially.Since its advent,there have been several advance-ments in the applications of indocyanine green,especially in the surgical field,such as intraoperative mapping and biopsy of sentinel lymph node,measurement of hepatic function prior to resection,in neurosurgical cases to detect vascular anomalies,in cardiovascular cases for patency and assessment of vascular ab-normalities,in predicting healing following amputations,in helping visualization of hepatobiliary anatomy and blood vessels,in reconstructive surgery,to assess flap viability and for the evaluation of tissue perfusion following major trauma and burns.For these reasons,the intraoperative use of indocyanine green has become common in a variety of surgical specialties and transplant surgery.Co-lorectal surgery has just lately begun to adopt this technique,particularly for perfusion visualization to prevent anastomotic leakage.The regular use of in-docyanine green coupled with fluorescence angiography has recently been pro-posed as a feasible tool to help improve patient outcomes.Using the best available data,it has been shown that routine use of indocyanine green in colorectal surgery reduces the rates of anastomotic leak.The use of indocyanine green is proven to be safe,feasible,and effective in both elective and emergency scenarios.However,additional robust evidence from larger-scale,high-quality studies is essential before incorporating indocyanine green guided surgery into standard practice.

Indocyanine green fluorescence in gastrointestinal surgery:Appraisal of current evidence

Applying indocyanine green(ICG)fluorescence in surgery has created a new dimension of navigation surgery to advance in various disciplines.The research in this field is nascent and fragmented,necessitating academic efforts to gain a comprehensive understanding.The present review aims to integrate diverse perspectives and recent advances in its application in gastrointestinal surgery.The relevant articles were selected by using the appropriate keyword search in PubMed.The angiography and cholangiography property of ICG fluorescence is helpful in various hepatobiliary disorders.In gastroesophageal and colorectal surgery,the lymphangiography and angiography property of ICG is applied to evaluate bowel vascularity and guide lymphadenectomy.The lack of objective parameters to assess ICG fluorescence has been the primary limitation when ICG is used to evaluate bowel perfusion.The optimum dose and timing of ICG administration need to be standardized in some new application areas in gastrointestinal surgery.Binding tumor-specific ligands with fluorophores can potentially widen the fluorescence application to detect primary and metastatic gastrointestinal tumors.The narrative review outlines prior contributions,limitations,and research opportunities for future studies across gastrointestinal sub-specialty.The findings of the present review would be helpful for scholars and practitioners to explore and progress in this exciting domain of gastrointestinal surgery.

Indocyanine green dye and its application in gastrointestinal surgery:The future is bright green

Indocyanine green(ICG)is a water-soluble fluorescent dye that is minimally toxic and widely used in gastrointestinal surgery.ICG facilitates anatomical identi-fication of structures(e.g.,ureters),assessment of lymph nodes,biliary mapping,organ perfusion and anastomosis assessment,and aids in determining the adequacy of oncological margins.In addition,ICG can be conjugated to artificially created antibodies for tumour markers,such as carcinoembryonic antigen for colorectal,breast,lung,and gastric cancer,prostate-specific antigen for prostate cancer,and cancer antigen 125 for ovarian cancer.Although ICG has shown promising results,the optimization of patient factors,dye factors,equipment,and the method of assessing fluorescence intensity could further enhance its utility.This review summarizes the clinical application of ICG in gastrointestinal surgery and discusses the emergence of novel dyes such as ZW-800 and VM678 that have demonstrated appropriate pharmacokinetic properties and improved target-to-background ratios in animal studies.With the emergence of robotic technology and the increasing reporting of ICG utility,a comprehensive review of clinical application of ICG in gastrointestinal surgery is timely and this review serves that aim.

The application of indocyanine green in guiding prostate cancer treatment

Objective:Indocyanine green(ICG)with near-infrared fluorescence absorption is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for clinical applications in angiography,blood flow evaluation,and liver function assessment.It has strong optical absorption in the near-infrared region,where light can penetrate deepest into biological tissue.We sought to review its value in guiding prostate cancer treatment.Methods:All related literature at PubMed from January 2000 to December 2020 were reviewed.Results:Multiple preclinical studies have demonstrated the usefulness of ICG in identifying prostate cancer by using different engineering techniques.Clinical studies have demonstrated the usefulness of ICG in guiding sentinel node dissection during radical prostatectomy,and possible better preservation of neurovascular bundle by identifying landmark prostatic arteries.New techniques such as adding fluorescein in additional to ICG were tested in a limited number of patients with encouraging result.In addition,the use of the ICG was shown to be safe.Even though there are encouraging results,it does not carry sufficient sensitivity and specificity in replacing extended pelvic lymph node dissection during radical prostatectomy.Conclusion:Multiple preclinical and clinical studies have shown the usefulness of ICG in identifying and guiding treatment for prostate cancer.Larger randomized prospective studies are warranted to further test its usefulness and find new modified approaches.

Application of indocyanine green in surgery: A review of current evidence and implementation in trauma patients

Background:Modern surgical medicine strives to manage trauma while improving outcomes using functional imaging.Identification of viable tissues is crucial for the surgical management of polytrauma and burn patients presenting with soft tissue and hollow viscus injuries.Bowel anastomosis after traumarelated resection is associated with a high rate of leakage.The ability of the surgeon’s bare eye to determine bowel viability remains limited,and the need for a more standardized objective assessment has not yet been fulfilled.Hence,there is a need for more precise diagnostic tools to enhance surgical evaluation and visualization to aid early diagnosis and timely management to minimize traumaassociated complications.Indocyanine green(ICG)coupled with fluorescence angiography is a potential solution for this problem.ICG is a fluorescent dye that responds to near-infrared irradiation.Methods:We conducted a narrative review to address the utility of ICG in the surgical management of patients with trauma as well as elective surgery.Discussion:ICG has many applications in different medical fields and has recently become an important clinical indicator for surgical guidance.However,there is a paucity of information regarding the use of this technology to treat traumas.Recently,angiography with ICG has been introduced in clinical practice to visualize and quantify organ perfusion under several conditions,leading to fewer cases of anastomotic insufficiency.This has great potential to bridge this gap and enhance the clinical outcomes of surgery and patient safety.However,there is no consensus on the ideal dose,time,and manner of administration nor the indications that ICG provides a genuine advantage through greater safety in trauma surgical settings.Conclusions:There is a scarcity of publications describing the use of ICG in trauma patients as a potentially useful strategy to facilitate intraoperative decisions and to limit the extent of surgical resection.This review will improve our understanding of the utility of intraoperative ICG fluorescence in guiding and assisting trauma surgeons to deal with the intraoperative challenges and thus improve the patients’operative care and safety in the field of trauma surgery.

Chinese expert consensus on laparoscopic hepatic segmentectomy and subsegmentectomy navigated by augmented-and mixed-reality technology combined with indocyanine green fluorescence imaging

Augmented-and mixed-reality technologies have pioneered the realization of real-time fusion and interactive projection for laparoscopic surgeries.Indocyanine green fluorescence imaging technology has enabled anatomical,functional,and radical hepatectomy through tumor identification and localization of target hepatic segments,driving a transformative shift in themanagement of hepatic surgical diseases,moving away from traditional,empirical diagnostic and treatment approaches toward digital,intelligent ones.The Hepatic Surgery Group of the Surgery Branch of the Chinese Medical Association,Digital Medicine Branch of the Chinese Medical Association,Digital Intelligent Surgery Committee of the Chinese Society of ResearchHospitals,and Liver Cancer Committee of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized the relevant experts in China to formulate this consensus.This consensus provides a comprehensive outline of the principles,advantages,processes,and key considerations associated with the application of augmented reality and mixed-reality technology combined with indocyanine green fluorescence imaging technology for hepatic segmental and subsegmental resection.The purpose is to streamline and standardize the application of these technologies.

Superiority of indocyanine green-enhanced near-infrared fluorescence-guided imaging for laparoscopic lymph node dissection in patients with early-stage endometrial cancer: A retrospective cohort study

Objective:Laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissection(LPND),which is an effective therapy for endometrial cancer,is challenging because of the complexity of the procedure and the occurrence of postoperative complications.This study aimed to explore whether indocyanine green(ICG)-enhanced nearinfrared(NIR)fluorescence-guided LPND is superior to LPND in the context of early-stage endometrial carcinoma.Methods:In this retrospective study,we included the medical records of 190 patients with early-stage endometrioid adenocarcinoma who underwent LPND at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital,Zhejiang University School of Medicine between January 2019 and January 2021.Depending on whether ICG-enhanced NIR fluorescence guidance was used,the patients were assigned to the ICG group or non-ICG group.Patients were followed-up for one year after surgery.Data on demographic characteristics,pathological results,operative outcomes,and complications were collected and analyzed.Results:The baseline characteristics were comparable between the ICG group and non-ICG group,including age,BMI,pregnancy history,and preoperative hemoglobin.For surgical outcomes,the patients in ICG group had significantly lower intraoperative blood loss(50 mL vs.120 mL,p<0.001),less postoperative pelvic drainage time(4.14±1.44 d vs.5.70±1.89 d,p¼0.001),shorter duration of hospital stay(5.26±1.41 d vs.7.37±1.85 d,p¼0.003),higher number of positive pelvic lymph nodes(PLNs)(1 vs.0,p¼0.003),and more PLN-positive cases(16.0%vs.3.6%,p¼0.003)than the patients in non-ICG group.However,no significant differences were noted in blood transfusion requirement,operative time,hemoglobin level decreases,number of PLNs harvested,or the presence of lymphocysts between the two groups.Conclusion:Our study showed that ICG-enhanced NIR fluorescence-guided operation may improve the accuracy and safety of LPND.

Laboratory scoring system to predict hepatic indocyanine green clearance ability during fluorescence imaging-guided laparoscopic hepatectomy

BACKGROUND Indocyanine green(ICG)fluorescence played an important role in tumor localization and margin delineation in hepatobiliary surgery.However,the preoperative regimen of ICG administration was still controversial.Factors associated with tumor fluorescence staining effect were unclear.AIM To investigate the preoperative laboratory indexes corelated with ICG fluorescence staining effect and establish a novel laboratory scoring system to screen specifical patients who need ICG dose adjustment.METHODS To investigate the predictive indicators of ICG fluorescence characteristics in patients undergoing laparoscopic hepatectomy from January 2018 to January 2021 were included.Blood laboratory tests were completed within 1 wk before surgery.All patients received 5 mg ICG injection 24 h before surgery for preliminary tumor imaging.ImageJ software was used to measure the fluorescence intensity values of regions of interest.Correlation analysis was used to identify risk factors.A laboratory risk model was established to identify individuals at high risk for high liver background fluorescence.RESULTS There were 110 patients who were enrolled in this study from January 2019 to January 2021.The mean values of fluorescence intensity of liver background(FI-LB),fluorescence intensity of gallbladder,and fluorescence intensity of target area were 18.87±17.06,54.84±33.29,and 68.56±36.11,respectively.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve showed that FI-LB was a good indicator for liver clearance ability[area under the ROC curve(AUC)=0.984].Correlation analysis found pre-operative aspartate aminotransferase,alanine aminotransferase,gammaglutamyl transpeptidase,adenosine deaminase,and lactate dehydrogenase were positively associated with FI-LB and red blood cell,cholinesterase,and were negatively associated with FI-LB.Total laboratory risk score(TLRS)was calculated according to ROC curve(AUC=0.848,sensitivity=0.773,specificity=0.885).When TLRS was greater than 6.5,the liver clearance ability of ICG was considered as poor.CONCLUSION Preoperative laboratory blood indicators can predict hepatic ICG clearance ability.Surgeons can adjust the dose and timing of ICG preoperatively to achieve better liver fluorescent staining.

Laparoscopic choledocholithotomy and transductal T-tube insertion with indocyanine green fluorescence imaging and laparoscopic ultrasound: A case report

BACKGROUND Laparoscopic choledocholithotomy for a large impacted common bile duct(CBD)stone is a challenging procedure because of the technical difficulty and the possibility of postoperative complications,even in this era of minimally invasive surgery.Herein,we present a case of large impacted CBD stones.CASE SUMMARY A 71-year-old man showed a distal CBD stone(45 mm×20 mm)and a middle CBD stone(20 mm×15 mm)on computed tomography.Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography failed due to the large size of the impacted stone and the presence of a large duodenal diverticulum.Laparoscopic choledocholithotomy was decided,and we used a near-infrared indocyanine green fluorescence scope to detect and expose the supraduodenal CBD more accurately.Then,the location,size,and shape of the stones were detected using a laparoscopic intraoperative ultrasound.The CBD was opened with a 2-cm-sized vertical incision.After irrigating several times,two CBD stones were removed with the Endo BabcockTM.T-tube insertion was done for postoperative cholangiography and delayed the removal of remnant sludge.The patient had no postoperative complications.CONCLUSION Laparoscopic choledocholithotomy by transcholedochal approach and transductal T-tube insertion is a safe and feasible option for large-sized impacted CBD stones.

ICG示踪前哨淋巴结在早期低危和中高危子宫内膜癌治疗中的应用研究

目的探讨吲哚菁绿(ICG)示踪前哨淋巴结(SLN)在早期低危和中高危子宫内膜癌(EC)中的应用价值。方法选取2020年7月1日至2022年6月30日于新疆医科大学附属肿瘤医院经宫腔镜或诊断性刮宫病理证实为早期EC的62例患者作为研究对象。先行腹腔镜下SLN活检(SLNB),然后行全子宫、双侧附件切除术+腹主动脉旁、盆腔淋巴结切除术。将患者分为低危组(n=42)、中高危组(n=20),比较两组检出率、灵敏度、阴性预测值(NPV)及SLN分布特征;采用Logistic回归分析影响SLN显影的因素。结果低危组和中高危组EC患者的总检出率分别为90.3%和90.0%,灵敏度均为100%,NPV均为100%,两组间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。低危组EC患者SLN显影分布:髂外淋巴结和闭孔淋巴结62.0%,髂内淋巴结和骶前淋巴结34.0%,髂总淋巴结2.7%,腹主动脉旁淋巴结1.3%;中高危组EC患者SLN显影分布:髂外淋巴结和闭孔淋巴结63.3%,髂内淋巴结和骶前淋巴结33.3%,髂总淋巴结0%,腹主动脉旁3.3%;低危组与中高危组SLN显影分布比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论ICG示踪SLN在早期低危和中高危EC中均是有效和可行的。

Indocyanine Green Nanoparticles for Theranostic Applications

Theranostics is a concept that integrated imaging and therapy. As an emerging field, it embraces multiple techniques to arrive at an individualized treatment purpose. Indocyanine green(ICG) is a near infrared dye that has been approved by Food and Drug Administration(FDA) in USA for the use in indicator-dilution studies in humans. ICG nanoparticles(NPs) have attracted much attention for its potential applications in cancer theranostics. This review focuses on the preparation, application of ICG NPs for in vivo imaging(fluorescent imaging and photoacoustic imaging) and therapeutics(photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy and photoacoustic therapy), and future directions based on recent developments in these areas. It is hoped that this review might provide new impetus to understand ICG NPs for cancer theranostics.

Indocyanine green clearance test and model for end-stage liver disease score of patients with liver cirrhosis

BACKGROUND: The indocyanine green (ICG) clearance test (clearance rate (K) and retention rate at 15 minutes (R(15))) is a sensitive indicator to evaluate liver function. The model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score has emerged as a useful tool for estimating the mortality of patients awaiting liver transplantation and has recently been validated on patients with liver diseases of various etiologies and severity. In this study, we investigated the correlation between the ICG clearance test and MELD score of patients with liver cirrhosis. METHODS: From June 2007 to March 2008, 52 patients with liver cirrhosis admitted to our center were classified into Child-Pugh class A (8 patients), B (14) and C (30). The ICG clearance test (K value and R(15)) was performed by ICG pulse spectrophotometry (DDG-3300K), and the MELD scores of patients were calculated. RESULTS: As the Child-Pugh classification of liver function gradually deteriorated, the K value decreased, while R(15) and MELD score increased. There were significant statistical differences in K value, R(15) and MELD score in patients with different Child-Pugh classifications. Significant correlations were found between the parameters of the ICG clearance test (K value and R(15)) and MELD score. A negative correlation was observed between K value and MELD score (r=-0.892, P < 0.05), while a positive correlation was observed between R(15) and MELD score (r=0.804, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The ICG clearance test and MELD score are good parameters for evaluating liver function. Moreover, K value and R(15) have significant correlations with MELD score, especially the K value, which may be a convenient and appropriate indicator to evaluate liver function of patients with liver cirrhosis.

indocyanine green-based fluorescence imaging in visceral and hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery:State of the art and future directions

In recent years, the use of fluorescence-guided surgery(FGS) to treat benign and malignant visceral, hepatobiliary and pancreatic neoplasms has significantly increased. FGS relies on the fluorescence signal emitted by injected substances(fluorophores) after being illuminated by ad hoc laser sources to help guide the surgical procedure and provide the surgeon with real-time visualization of the fluorescent structures of interest that would be otherwise invisible. This review surveys and discusses the most common and emerging clinical applications of indocyanine green(ICG)-based fluorescence in visceral, hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery. The analysis, findings, and discussion presented here rely on the authors' significant experience with this technique in their medical institutions, an up-to-date review of the most relevant articles published on this topic between 2014 and 2018, and lengthy discussions with key opinion leaders in the field during recent conferences and congresses. For each application, the benefits and limitations of this technique, as well as applicable future directions, are described. The imaging of fluorescence emitted by ICG is a simple, fast,relatively inexpensive, and harmless tool with numerous different applications in surgery for both neoplasms and benign pathologies of the visceral and hepatobiliary systems. The ever-increasing availability of visual systems that can utilize this tool will transform some of these applications into the standard of care in the near future. Further studies are needed to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each application of ICG-based fluorescence imaging in abdominal surgery.

Indocyanine green kinetics to assess liver function: Ready for a clinical dynamic assessment in major liver surgery?

Indocyanine green(ICG) kinetics(PDR/R15) used to quantitatively assess hepatic function in the perioperative period of major resective surgery and liver transplantation have been the object of an extensive, updated and critical review. New, non invasive bedside monitors(pulse dye densitometry technology) make this opportunity widely available in clinical practice. After having reviewed basic concepts of hepatic clearance, we analysed the most common indications ICG kinetic parameters have nowadays in clinical practice, focusing in particular on the diagnostic and prognostic role of PDR and R15 in the perioperative period of major liver surgery and liver transplantation. As recently pointed out, even if of extreme interest, ICG clearance parameters have still some limitations, to be considered when using these tests.

Comparison of sentinel lymph node detection performances using blue dye in conjunction with indocyanine green or radioisotope in breast cancer patients: a prospective singlecenter randomized study

Objective:This randomized study aimed to compare the clinical efficacy between the novel dual tracer composed of indocyanine green(ICG)and blue dye(BD)and the conventional dual tracer composed of radioisotope and BD for sentinel lymph node(SLN)mapping in patients with breast cancer.Methods:This study enrolled 471 clinically lymph node-negative patients with primary breast cancer.All patients underwent mastectomy,and those undergoing sentinel lymph node biopsy(SLNB)were randomized to receive blue dye plus radioisotope(RB group)or BD plus ICG(IB group).The detection performances on SLN identification rate,positive SLN counts,detection sensitivity,and false-negative rate were compared between the two groups.Results:In the IB group,97%(194/200)of the patients who underwent the ICG and BD dual tracer injection showed fluorescentpositive lymphatic vessels within 2–5 min.The identification rate of SLNs was comparable between the IB group(99.0%,198/200)and the RB group(99.6%,270/271)(P=0.79).No significant differences were observed in the identification rate of metastatic SLNs(22.5%vs.22.9%,P>0.05,RB group vs.IB group,the same below),positive SLN counts(3.72±2.28 vs.3.91±2.13,P>0.05),positive metastatic SLN counts(0.38±0.84 vs.0.34±0.78,P>0.05),SLNB detection sensitivity(94.4%vs.92.5%,P>0.05),or false-negative rate(5.6%vs.7.5%,P>0.05)between the two groups.Conclusions:ICG can be used as a promising alternative tracer for radioisotope in SLN mapping,and when it is combined with BD in lymphangiography,it offers comparable detection sensitivity compared to the conventional lymphatic mapping strategies that are widely used in clinical practice.

Indocyanine green clearance test combined with MELD score in predicting the short-term prognosis of patients with acute liver failure

BACKGROUND: Acute liver failure(ALF) is an acute severe deterioration of liver function with high mortality. Early and accurate prognostic assessment of patients with ALF is critically important. Although the model for end-stage liver disease(MELD) scores and King’s College Hospital(KCH) criteria are well-accepted as predictive tools, their accuracy is unsatisfactory.The indocyanine green(ICG) clearance test(ICGR15, ICG retention rate at the 15 minutes) is a sensitive indicator of liver function. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of the ICGR15 for the short-term prognosis in patients with ALF. We compared the predictive value of ICGR15 with the MELD scores and KCH criteria.METHODS: Sixty-nine patients who had been diagnosed with ALF were recruited retrospectively. ICGR15 had been performed by ICG pulse spectrophotometry and relevant clinical and laboratory indices were analyzed within 24 hours of diagnosis.In addition, the MELD scores and KCH criteria were calculated.RESULTS: The three-month mortality of all patients was 47.83%.Age, serum total bilirubin and creatinine concentrations,international normalized ratio for prothrombin time, ICGR15,MELD scores and KCH criteria differed significantly between surviving and deceased patients. A positive correlation was observed between ICGR15 and MELD scores(r=0.328, P=0.006).The ICGR15-MELD model, Logit(P)=0.096×ICGR15+0.174 ×MELD score–9.346, was constructed by logistic regression analysis. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.855. When set the cut-off point to-0.4684, the sensitivity was 87.90% and specificity, 72.20%. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the ICGR15-MELD model(0.855) was significantly higher than that of the ICGR15(0.793), MELD scores(0.776) and KCH criteria(0.659).Based on this cut-off value, the patients were divided into two groups. The mortality was 74.36% in the first group(ICGR15-MELD≥-0.4686) and 13.33% in the second group(ICGR15-MELD<-0.4686), with a significant difference between the two groups(χ2=25.307, P=0.000).CONCLUSION: The ICGR15-MELD model is superior to the ICGR15, MELD scores, and KCH criteria in predicting the shortterm prognosis of patients with ALF.

Application of indocyanine green-enhanced near-infrared fluorescence-guided imaging in laparoscopic lateral pelvic lymph node dissection for middle-low rectal cancer

BACKGROUND As one effective treatment for lateral pelvic lymph node(LPLN)metastasis(LPNM),laparoscopic LPLN dissection(LPND)is limited due to the complicated anatomy of the pelvic sidewall and various complications after surgery.With regard to improving the accuracy and completeness of LPND as well as safety,we tried an innovative method using indocyanine green(ICG)visualized with a near-infrared(NIR)camera system to guide the detection of LPLNs in patients with middle-low rectal cancer.AIM To investigate whether ICG-enhanced NIR fluorescence-guided imaging is a better technique for LPND in patients with rectal cancer.METHODS A total of 42 middle-low rectal cancer patients with clinical LPNM who underwent total mesorectal excision(TME)and LPND between October 2017 and March 2019 at our institution were assessed and divided into an ICG group and a non-ICG group.Clinical characteristics,operative outcomes,pathological outcomes,and postoperative complication information were compared and analysed between the two groups.RESULTS Compared to the non-ICG group,the ICG group had significantly lower intraoperative blood loss(55.8±37.5 mL vs 108.0±52.7 mL,P=0.003)and a significantly larger number of LPLNs harvested(11.5±5.9 vs 7.1±4.8,P=0.017).The LPLNs of two patients in the non-IVG group were residual during LPND.In addition,no significant difference was found in terms of LPND,LPNM,operative time,conversion to laparotomy,preoperative complication,or hospital stay(P>0.05).CONCLUSION ICG-enhanced NIR fluorescence-guided imaging could be a feasible and convenient technique to guide LPND because it could bring specific advantages regarding the accuracy and completeness of surgery as well as safety.