Indocyanine Green in Bariatric Surgery: a Systematic Review.

Area of Science:

• Surgical Innovation
• Medical Imaging
• Bariatric Surgery

Background:

• Traditional methods for assessing tissue perfusion and detecting leaks in bariatric surgery have limitations.
• Indocyanine green (ICG) offers a real-time, fluorescent imaging approach for intraoperative evaluation.
• Evaluating the impact of ICG on surgical decisions and complication rates is crucial.

Approach:

• A systematic literature review was conducted using PubMed.
• Search terms included "ICG and bariatric surgery," "ICG and gastric sleeve," "ICG and gastric bypass," and "ICG and revisional bariatric surgery."
• The study summarized published outcomes related to ICG use in bariatric procedures.

Key Points:

• ICG fluorescent imaging can be used for both tissue perfusion assessment and leak testing during bariatric surgery.
• A significant proportion of patients (3.8%) experienced an intraoperative decision change based on ICG findings.
• ICG demonstrates potential in enhancing surgical decision-making and potentially reducing complications.

Conclusions:

• Indocyanine green (ICG) is a valuable tool in bariatric surgery for intraoperative assessment.
• Further research is warranted to establish the routine utility of ICG in both standard and complex bariatric cases.
• ICG may offer advantages over traditional methods for evaluating tissue perfusion and detecting leaks.