[Pilot experience with indocyanine green navigation in pediatric surgery]

Area of Science:

• Surgical Navigation
• Medical Imaging
• Pediatric Surgery

Background:

• Indocyanine Green (ICG) fluorescence is an emerging tool for navigated surgery.
• It offers potential benefits in safety, surgical outcomes, and intraoperative decision-making.
• This pilot series explores ICG navigation in pediatric surgical procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of ICG fluorescence navigation in various pediatric surgical scenarios.
• To assess its impact on intraoperative decision-making and surgical outcomes.
• To determine the safety and feasibility of ICG navigation in pediatric patients.

Main Methods:

• ICG fluorescence navigation was employed as a decision-making aid in 20 patients (22 procedures) between May 2017 and March 2019.
• Applications included visualization of the biliary tract, vascular/lymphatic structures, neoplastic tissue, and other anatomical landmarks.
• A specialized high-definition system with near-infrared light was utilized.

Main Results:

• The technique was applied in biliary tract procedures (n=6), oncologic procedures (n=9), and miscellaneous cases (n=7).
• No complications were associated with ICG administration.
• ICG navigation provided relevant information or influenced intraoperative decisions in 90% of cases.

Conclusions:

• ICG navigation is a safe and easily performed technique.
• Preliminary findings suggest ICG navigation represents a significant advancement in safety and procedural facilitation for pediatric surgery.
• Its application is particularly promising in pediatric oncology, liver surgery, and neonatal surgery.