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Updated: Sep 19, 2026
The Role of Indocyanine Green Fluorescence in Complex Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Navigation
Published on: January 31, 2025
The ICG-Foley: A Novel Indocyanine Green-Coated Foley Catheter for Enhanced Anatomic Identification During
Chad Heflick1, Orly Guerra1, Igor Sorokin1
1Department of Urology, UMass Memorial Medical Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA.
Background:
Precise identification of the bladder neck and urethra during robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) is critical for continence preservation but remains challenging, particularly during the Retzius-sparing approach.
Objective:
To describe a novel indocyanine green (ICG)-coated Foley catheter (ICG-Foley) that enhances intraoperative identification of the bladder neck and urethra during RALP and to report preliminary functional outcomes.
Methods:
A 16Fr latex Foley catheter was soaked in ICG-saline solution (25 mg/210 mL) for 3 minutes before placement. The technique was evaluated in 4 consecutive patients undergoing RALP using the da Vinci SP and Xi robotic platforms.
Results:
The ICG-Foley provided consistent near-infrared fluorescence throughout all procedures, enabling clear identification of the bladder neck and apical urethra. All 4 patients achieved continence (≤1 pad/day) by 12 months.
Conclusions:
The ICG-Foley is a simple, low-cost adjunct that enhances real-time anatomic identification during RALP and may serve as a valuable tool for both experienced surgeons and those early in their learning curve.
