Indocyanine green in deep infiltrating endometriosis: a preliminary feasibility study to examine vascularization after rectal shaving

Abstract

To evaluate the feasibility of using indocyanine green (ICG) to estimate the vascularization of the resected zone during a laparoscopic rectal shaving. Indocyanine green can highlight blood vascularization when injected intravenously. There is no relevant, objective, intraoperative method to assess the vascularity of the resected zone during a laparoscopic rectal shaving for deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) to prevent fistula. We conducted a registered clinical trial examining the feasibility of the use of ICG to evaluate the bowel vascularization after endometriosis rectal shaving (Institutional Review Board number 2016-002773-35). Tertiary university hospital. Twenty-one patients underwent laparoscopic surgery for DIE with a rectal shaving. Patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for DIE received ICG intravenously at the end of the endometriosis resection. The main evaluation criteria was the fluorescence degree in the operated rectal area and in the vaginal suture. We used a visual assessment with a Likert-type scale from 0 to 4 (0 = no fluorescence; 4 = very good fluorescence). No adverse reaction was recorded. Most of the patients (81%) showed very good fluorescence levels at the rectal shaving area. The protocol did not increase the operating time. In one patient we changed the surgical strategy making two stitches to bring the rectal muscularis closer together, which improved the degree of fluorescence. There was no case of digestive fistula. Indocyanine green fluorescent imaging is feasible in endometriosis surgery and may be considered as a potential candidate to further enhance patient safety in endometriosis bowel surgery. NCT03080558.