Use of indocianine green fluorescence in acute mesenteric ischemia

Introduction: Acute mesenteric ischemia has a high morbidity and mortality and constitutes an intraoperative challenge in the management of ischemic areas. In this context, we analyze the use of indocyanine green fluorescence to assess intestinal vascularization through 3 clinical cases. Case presentation: we present 3 clinical cases operated for acute mesenteric ischemia. Evaluation of intestinal viability is performed under infrared light after intravenous infusion of 25 mg of indocyanine green. Case 1 is a 42-year-old male with multiple antecedents of severe vascular disease, presenting with a massive acute mesenteric ischemia involving multiple intestinal segments. Fluorescence allows two adjusted bowel resections with double intestinal anastomosis. Case 2 is a 74-year-old woman with a history of non-anticoagulated atrial fibrillation who is decided to perform an urgent surgery when an esophageal, gastric and portal system pneumatosis is observed, as indirect signs of ischemia, in urgent CT. During the surgical act there is an ischemia of the terminal ileum and right colon without clear signs of involvement at the esophageal-gastric level. The assessment after administration of ICG discriminates the clear ischemic involvement from terminal ileum to ascending colon and patched in the transverse and left colon, without esophageal or gastric involvement. Case 3 is a 49-year-old woman with aortoiliac and visceral Takayasu disease and revascularization surgery of the celiac trunk. Given the increase in abdominal pain, a new CT scan demonstrates colonic pneumatosis. Urgent laparotomy shows necrosis at the level of the left colon and hypoperfusion of the cecum. The administration of ICG finds a lack of uptake of the entire colon. A subtotal colectomy with ileostomy and mucous fistula is performed. Introduction: Acute mesenteric ischemia has a high morbidity and mortality and constitutes an intraoperative challenge in the management of ischemic areas. In this context, we analyze the use of indocyanine green fluorescence to assess intestinal vascularization through 3 clinical cases. Case presentation: we present 3 clinical cases operated for acute mesenteric ischemia. Evaluation of intestinal viability is performed under infrared light after intravenous infusion of 25 mg of indocyanine green. Case 1 is a 42-year-old male with multiple antecedents of severe vascular disease, presenting with a massive acute mesenteric ischemia involving multiple intestinal segments. Fluorescence allows two adjusted bowel resections with double intestinal anastomosis. Case 2 is a 74-year-old woman with a history of non-anticoagulated atrial fibrillation who is decided to perform an urgent surgery when an esophageal, gastric and portal system pneumatosis is observed, as indirect signs of ischemia, in urgent CT. During the surgical act there is an ischemia of the terminal ileum and right colon without clear signs of involvement at the esophageal-gastric level. The assessment after administration of ICG discriminates the clear ischemic involvement from terminal ileum to ascending colon and patched in the transverse and left colon, without esophageal or gastric involvement. Case 3 is a 49-year-old woman with aortoiliac and visceral Takayasu disease and revascularization surgery of the celiac trunk. Given the increase in abdominal pain, a new CT scan demonstrates colonic pneumatosis. Urgent laparotomy shows necrosis at the level of the left colon and hypoperfusion of the cecum. The administration of ICG finds a lack of uptake of the entire colon. A subtotal colectomy with ileostomy and mucous fistula is performed. Conclusions: The fluorescence with ICG provides a better visualization of the intestinal vascularization in the AMI, and allows to determine the limits of the affected tissue to perform adjusted resections.