Indocyanine Green Fluorescence Angiography Versus Visual Assessment for Assessing Perfusion of Gastric Conduit and Esophageal Stump in Post Esophagectomy Patients: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Study.

Background and objective: Anastomotic leak (AL) is a serious complication following esophagectomy and is often linked to poor perfusion of the gastric conduit (GC) and esophageal stump (EC). The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy of intraoperative Indocyanine green fluorescence angiography (ICG-FA) versus visual assessment VA) to assess perfusion status and its impact on the rate of AL.

Methods: Fifty-eight esophageal or gastroesophageal junction carcinoma patients were randomized to ICG-FA (28) and VA (30) groups. Perfusion status was assessed with VA alone in the VA group and with VA followed by ICG-FA in the ICG-FA group.

Results: The ICG-FA group had a lower leak rate of 4% when compared to 27% in the VA group (p = 0.03). ICG-FA identified nine cases where VA misjudged the GC tip vascularity, thereby avoiding unnecessary resections. ICG-FA necessitated revision of the GC tip in one case missed by VA and also identified poor perfusion of ES tip in three cases mandating revision which were deemed well-perfused by VA.

Conclusion: ICG-FA demonstrated superiority over VA in assessing perfusion adequacy of the GC and ES, which resulted in a statistically significant decrease in the rate of anastomotic leaks.