Real-Time Visualization of Ureters Using Indocyanine Green During Laparoscopic Surgeries: Can We Make Surgery Safer?

Intraoperative ureteral injury is rare, but a grave complication during laparoscopic surgery. Several methods for intraoperative localization of ureters are described with their own pitfalls. Intraoperative localization using near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence with indocyanine green (ICG) is an easier and assured method during laparoscopic pelvic surgeries. From September 2017 to December 2017, patients undergoing laparoscopic pelvic surgeries were administered cystoscopic-guided intraureteral ICG immediately preoperatively with tip of a 6-Fr ureteral catheter. The fluorescence of ureters was visualized in the NIR mode of the camera system, localizing the ureters precisely and in real time. This technique was used to visualize ureters in 30 surgeries. Median age of the patients was 46.7 years with median body mass index of 23.2 kg/m2. Mean duration between administration of dye and insertion of trocar was 10 minutes. Mean duration for insertion of cystoscopically guided intraureteral ICG was 7 minutes. Ureteral fluorescence was visualized in all cases with some variation in intensity of the brightness perceived depending on surrounding fat. Duration of the lengthiest surgery was 240 minutes, and fluorescence was appreciated till the end. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications attributed to ICG administration. In 10 patients (33%), there was difficulty in identifying the ureters on conventional white light mode, in which ICG localization was extremely helpful. ICG-stained ureteral visualization under NIR light is a safe and feasible method that provides real-time ureteral demarcation. This easily replicable, sensitive, and specific method of ureteral visualization can make complex laparoscopic pelvic surgeries safer.