Indocyanine green in left side colorectal surgery segmental resection to decrease anastomotic leak: A parallel retrospective cohort study of 115 patients.

BACKGROUND

We investigated the impact of Indocyanine Green (ICG) angiography on reducing anastomotic leakage (AL) after elective left segmental colon resection, including transverse resection. While ICG is widely used in colorectal surgery to assess vascularization, its true effect on AL, particularly in left segmental resections, remains unclear.

STUDY

DESIGN

This retrospective, monocentric cohort study included patients undergoing left and transverse colon resection from January 2017 to July 2023. Patients were divided into ICG and no-ICG groups. The primary outcome was AL, with secondary outcomes including postoperative morbidity and length of stay.

RESULTS

Of the 115 patients enrolled, 53 received ICG and 63 did not. AL occurred in 6 patients in the no-ICG group, but none in the ICG group. No significant correlation was found between ICG use and other confounding factors. Postoperative length of stay was also shorter in the ICG group.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of ICG was associated with a reduction in AL, with no cases in the ICG group. These findings suggest a potential benefit of ICG, warranting confirmation in future large-scale studies.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrial.gov (NCT05981937).