Recent fluorescence-based optical imaging for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery segmentectomy.

BACKGROUND

The importance of fluorescence-based optical imaging in various fields of surgery is increasing. This is a prospective cohort study aimed to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of indocyanine-green fluorescence (ICGF)-based navigation for near-infrared (NIR) thoracoscopic segmentectomy.

METHODS

ICGF-based video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) segmentectomy was performed in 149 patients. Each patient underwent preoperative evaluation by multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT), which provided three-dimensional simulations of vascular structures, segmental bronchi, and lung tumor. During the procedure, low-dose ICG (0.25 mg/kg) was injected systemically after the target segmental pulmonary arteries and bronchus were divided. Under NIR-thoracoscopic guidance, an ICG fluorescent line was marked by electric scalpel, followed by division of lung parenchyma along the line by electric scalpel or endoscopic staples.

RESULTS

An intersegmental line of ICGF was visible in 98% of patients, even with the use of low-dose ICG. Neither ICG-related adverse events nor procedure-related major complications occurred. The 5-year overall (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were 91.8% and 98%, respectively. Localized recurrence at the resected site did not occur in any patient.

CONCLUSIONS

ICGF-based navigation for NIR VATS segmentectomy for patients with lung cancer is feasible and effective.