Assessment of anastomosis perfusion by fluorescent angiography in robotic low rectal resection: the results of a non-randomized study.

INTRODUCTION

Colorectal cancer is a major contributor to the overall cancer burden in the Czech population. Anastomotic healing defects are a feared complication which may have a fatal impact on the patient. Fundamental conditions for proper anastomotic healing include sufficient blood supply. Fluorescent angiography using indocyanine green in the spectrum of near-infrared light facilitates the monitoring of tissue perfusion during a surgery. The aim of this article is to present the results of a non-randomized study in which we assessed prospectively obtained data from a perioperative assessment of anastomosis perfusion by fluorescent angiography using indocyanine green during robotic resection of the rectum with a malignant tumor.

METHOD

Thirty patients with rectal cancer who underwent a robotic resection with primary anastomosis were consecutively included in the study between 1 April 2017 and 21 June 2018. The study included patients due to undergo a minimally invasive procedure with guaranteed health insurance coverage. During the operation, we monitored and assessed the quality of perfusion of the resection line of the sigmoid colon and subsequent anastomosis by means of fluorescent angiography using indocyanine green in the spectrum of near-infrared light. The data were obtained prospectively and subsequently analyzed.

RESULTS

Between 1 April 2017 and 21 June 2018, we consecutively included 30 rectal cancer patients in the project: 16 men and 14 women. Monitoring of perfusion of the resection line and anastomosis was successful in all cases and perfusion quality was satisfactory across the sample. Perfusion insufficiency requiring a change in the resection line level or anastomosis adjustments was not detected with any patient. In two cases (12.5 %) of TME, we gave up the planned protective ileostomy owing to good perfusion of the anastomosis. One patient (3.3%) suffered from defective anastomotic healing without clinical symptoms (type A). We found no technical complications related to fluorescent angiography or undesirable effects due to the application of indocyanine green.

CONCLUSION

Fluorescent angiography using indocyanine green in the spectrum of near-infrared light is a fast and safe option to monitor the level of blood supply to an anastomosis during surgery, which is a fundamental condition for proper healing. Even though we did not record insufficient perfusion in our sample and hence we did not need to change the resection line level or adjust the anastomosis, we may state that fluorescent angiography performed by an experienced colorectal surgeon may potentially reduce the frequency of complications linked to defective anastomotic healing.