Researchers lit up esophageal cancer surgery with near-infrared indocyanine green, exposing the elusive thoracic duct (TD) in 94% of cases. Injecting ICG into inguinal nodes during minimal access esophagectomy, the team showcased real-time TD imaging. The glow guided ligation in 16 cases, minimizing chyle leaks and sidestepping adverse reactions. This illuminating approach, sustaining fluorescence throughout, promises safer surgery, valuable anatomical insights, and a chyle leak-free 30-day recovery for patients.
Journal Article by Thammineedi SR, Patnaik SC (…) Nusrath S et 3 al. in Langenbecks Arch Surg
© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.