Abstract Background Anastomotic leakage is one of the most feared complications of esophagogastric surgery, conferring significant morbidity and mortality in these patients. It is known that inadequate vascularization of the gastroplasty is a major risk factor for anastomotic dehiscence. The aim of this study is to evaluate and demonstrate the utility of intraoperative use of indocyanine green (ICG) in patients undergoing esophagectomy and reconstruction with gastroplasty to assess the relationship between its vascularization and the presence of anastomotic leakage in the postoperative period. Methods Prospective, longitudinal, observational, and analytical study of 36 consecutive cases in which intraoperative ICG was used for patients undergoing McKeown esophagectomy and reconstruction with gastroplasty and cervical anastomosis from June 2021 to December 2023. The distance traveled by the ICG in a proximal direction from the pylorus at 30 and 90 seconds after its intravenous infusion was measured. An automatic baseline point or point of maximum fluorescence was also recorded and compared both in net value and in percentage at 30, 60, 90, and 120 seconds after the infusion of ICG with the theoretical zone of anastomosis construction (zone reaching the sternal manubrium after extending the graft over the sternum). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 24.0. Results The rate of leaks and necrosis of the graft was 19.4% and 2.8%, respectively. There is a significant relationship (p<0.05) between the rate of anastomotic dehiscence and the net value and percentage compared with the automatic baseline point of ICG at the anastomosis site and at the apex of the gastroplasty at 30, 60, 90, and 120 seconds. Using a ROC curve (figure 1) that analyzed the time it takes for ICG to reach the anastomosis, a cutoff point of 19.5 seconds was established, which gives ICG greater profitability as a diagnostic test with an AUC of 0.821 (0.642-1). The positive predictive value of this test is 0.36, and the negative predictive value is 1. Conclusion The use of indocyanine green appears to be a good method for identifying those anastomoses and gastroplasties that present a high risk of dehiscence and/or necrosis. The time it takes for ICG to reach the anastomosis, the speed at which it does so, as well as the quantitative value provided by the platform used, seem to be valid parameters for identifying high-risk cases. This would allow for the performance of additional measures to reduce the risk of dehiscence and/or necrosis. Randomized prospective studies with a larger sample size would be necessary.
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