Clinical Utility of Indocyanine Green Fluorescence in Neonatal Surgery: A Single-Center Study and Systematic Review

The use of indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence in neonatal procedures is limited to specific pathologies, with variability in its application, highlighting the need to expand its indications and standardize administration protocols. We present our experience and review of the literature.Prospective assessment (2019-2023) of ICG-navigated neonatal surgeries. Administration routes included intravenous, endoluminal, and intracatheter. ICG dosages were variable according to the indication. The results were prospectively registered, focusing on its ability to achieve the desired goal. A systematic literature review identifying neonatal cases where ICG fluorescence was used for surgical assistance was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines.ICG was used in 23 procedures. The average weight was 3.5 kg (SD = 1.4). Surgical procedures were: esophageal atresia repair (eight), intestinal anastomosis (five), Kasai portoenterostomy (five), H-type tracheoesophageal fistula closure (one), diaphragmatic plication (one), omphalocele repair (one) and resection of choledochal cyst (one), lymphatic malformation (one), and pyloric duplication (one). 52.2% were minimally invasive. ICG was useful in 21/23 (91.3%) procedures and was unsuccessful in two cases due to technical difficulties. There were no complications following the ICG injection. Eight studies reporting on 23 neonatal patients were selected for the review. The primary applications of ICG included angiography, cholangiography, lymphography, and visualization of the digestive tract.To date, this is the largest reported series of ICG-navigated neonatal surgeries. ICG proved to be safe and feasible in this population, allowing the identification of anatomical structures, facilitating decision-making, and minimizing the risk of complications. It is versatile for various procedures and approaches.