Significance: Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging using indocyanine green (ICG) has proven to be a feasible application for real-time intraoperative assessment of tissue perfusion, although... Show moreSignificance: Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging using indocyanine green (ICG) has proven to be a feasible application for real-time intraoperative assessment of tissue perfusion, although quantification of NIR fluorescence signals is pivotal for standardized assessment of tissue perfusion.Aim: Four patients are described with possible compromised bowel perfusion after mesenteric resection. Based on these patients we want to emphasize the difficulties in the quantification of NIR fluorescence imaging for perfusion analysis.Approach: During image-guided fluorescence assessment, 5 mg of ICG (2.5 mg/ml) was intravenously administered by the anesthesiologist. NIR fluorescence imaging was done with the open camera system of Quest Medical Imaging. Fluorescence data taken from the regions of interest (bowel at risk, transition zone of bowel at risk and adjacent normally perfused bowel, and normally perfused reference bowel) were quantitatively analyzed after surgery for fluorescence intensity-and perfusion time-related parameters.Results: Bowel perfusion, as assessed clinically by independent surgeons based on NIR fluorescence imaging, resulted in different treatment strategies, three with excellent clinical outcome, but one with a perfusion related complication. Post-surgery quantitative analysis of fluorescence dynamics showed different patterns in the affected bowel segment compared to the unaffected reference segments for the four patients.Conclusions: Similar intraoperative fluorescence results could lead to different surgical treatment strategies, which demonstrated the difficulties in interpretation of uncorrected fluorescence signals. Real-time quantification and standardization of NIR fluorescence perfusion imaging could probably aid surgeons in the nearby future. (C) The Authors. Published by SPIE under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported License. Show less
Goncalves, L.N.; Hoven, P. van den; Schaik, J. van; Leeuwenburgh, L.; Hendricks, C.H.F.; Verduijn, P.S.; ... ; Vorst, J.R. van der 2021
(1) Background: Near-infrared fluorescence imaging is a technique capable of assessing tissue perfusion and has been adopted in various fields including plastic surgery, vascular surgery, coronary... Show more(1) Background: Near-infrared fluorescence imaging is a technique capable of assessing tissue perfusion and has been adopted in various fields including plastic surgery, vascular surgery, coronary arterial disease, and gastrointestinal surgery. While the usefulness of this technique has been broadly explored, there is a large variety in the calculation of perfusion parameters. In this systematic review, we aim to provide a detailed overview of current perfusion parameters, and determine the perfusion parameters with the most potential for application in near-infrared fluorescence imaging. (2) Methods: A comprehensive search of the literature was performed in Pubmed, Embase, Medline, and Cochrane Review. We included all clinical studies referencing near-infrared perfusion parameters. (3) Results: A total of 1511 articles were found, of which, 113 were suitable for review, with a final selection of 59 articles. Near-infrared fluorescence imaging parameters are heterogeneous in their correlation to perfusion. Time-related parameters appear superior to absolute intensity parameters in a clinical setting. (4) Conclusions: This literature review demonstrates the variety of parameters selected for the quantification of perfusion in near-infrared fluorescence imaging. Show less