PS01.186: QUANTITATIVE PERFUSION EVALUATION AFTER GASTRIC TUBE RECONSTRUCTION USING FLUORESCENCE IMAGING

Abstract

Abstract Background Poor fundus perfusion is seen as the major factor for the development of anastomotic necrosis, leakage and strictures. Quantitative imaging of tissue perfusion during reconstructive surgery, therefore, may reduce the incidence of complications. Imaging the fluorescense of intravenously administered fluorophores is an optical, non-contact method to image blood flow in real-time. However, quantitative parameters for perfusion evaluation are stil lacking. The objective of this study is to test fluorescence imaging derived quantitative parameters for perfusion evaluation of the gastric tube during surgery and to correlate these parameters to patient outcome in terms of anastomotic leakage. Methods This study included 22 patients (October 2015 - June 2016). Indocyanine green (ICG) was injected intravenously and the fluorescense intensity of the gastric tube was imaged for 2–3 minutes. At 4 locations, quantitative analysis of the fluorescent intensity over time was performed to obtain perfusion related parameters: the maximal intensity, mean slope and influx timepoint. These parameters were tested for significant differences between the four perfusion areas of the gastric tube (from normal to decreased perfusion) with a repeated ANOVA test. Furthermore, these parameters and the distance of the end of the gastroepiploic artery to the fundus and distance of the demarcation of the fluorescent signal to the fundus were compared with patient outcome in terms of anastomotic leakage development. Results The fluorescent signal could be detected in all analyzed patients (n = 20). Maximal intensity, mean slope and influx timepoint were significantly different between the base of the gastric tube and the fundus (P < 0.0001). While the distance of the watershed and the demarcation of ICG to the fundus varied between patients, the distance of the demarcation of ICG to the fundus was significantly higher in the three patients who developed anastomotic leakage (P < 0.0001). No allergic reactions on ICG were witnessed. Conclusion Intra-operative fluorescence imaging is feasible to visualize perfusion quantitatively in gastric-tube surgery, using the parameters maximal intensity, mean slope and influx timepoint. A low slope and a large distance between the fluorescence demarcation and the fundus were seen in patients who developed anastomotic leakage and could therefore allow for early risk stratification of necrosis. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.