Intraoperative Indocyanine Green Fluorescence Angiography for Diagnosis of Nonocclusive Mesenteric Ischemia: A Case Report

Abstract

Nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) has a very poor prognosis. It is often difficult to determine the extent to which the necrotic intestine should be resected. We herein report a case in which indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence angiography was found to be a useful method for diagnosis of NOMI and determination of the extent to which the necrotic intestinal tissue should be resected. A 65-year-old man underwent a second-look operation followed by surgical repair of strangulation of the ileum. A noncontinuous segmental ischemic lesion was detected in the remnant small intestine and cecum. Whether necrotic changes had occurred in the small intestine was difficult to discern. Thus, intraoperative ICG fluorescence angiography was performed with a near-infrared camera system to visualize the blood flow in the intestines and mesentery. ICG fluorescence angiography revealed insufficient blood flow in some parts of the intestine. Based on these findings, ileocecal resection and enterectomy were carried out. Histopathologic examination revealed necrotic changes in all layers of the resected specimens, but no thrombi in the associated blood vessels. The patient received a diagnosis of NOMI based on the findings of intraoperative ICG fluorescence angiography and subsequent histopathologic examination. Intraoperative ICG angiography appears to have the potential to be one of the convenient and useful modalities for the diagnosis and treatment of NOMI.