Indocyanine Green Fluorescence Angiography after Full-thickness Bowel Resection for Rectosigmoid Endometriosis–A Feasibility Study

Study Objective: To evaluate feasibility of near-infrared (NIR)–indocyanine green (ICG) imaging for bowel vascularization assessment after full-thickness bowel resection for rectosigmoid endometriosis (RSE). Design: This is a prospective, single-center, preliminary study on consecutive patients who were symptomatic submitted to discoid or segmental resection for RSE and NIR-ICG evaluation for vascular assessment of the anastomotic line from May 2018 to January 2020. Setting: Tertiary university hospital. Patients: Thirty-two women with RSE meeting eligibility criteria were included for study analysis. Interventions: NIR-ICG evaluation of anastomotic line vascularization after RSE removal. Measurements and Main Results: Fluorescence degree of the anastomotic line was assessed with a 0 to 2 Likert scale, as follows: 0 or “absent” (no fluorescence observed), 1 or “irregular” (not uniform distribution or weak fluorescence), and 2 or “regular” (uniform distribution of fluorescence and similar to the proximal colon). In all the patients included in the study (100%), NIR-ICG imaging allowed the evaluation of fluorescence degree of the anastomotic line. No adverse reaction related to ICG use was recorded. The protocol did not greatly lengthen operating time (median, 4 [range, 3–5] minutes). Excellent interoperator agreement was observed. Most of the patients (31 of 32, 96.9%) showed regular fluorescence on the anastomotic line; in 1 patient with irregular fluorescence at NIR-ICG after discoid excision, the anastomotic suture was reinforced through interrupted stitches. We had 1 case of anastomotic leakage after segmental resection with intraoperative good fluorescence at NIR-ICG evaluation. Conclusion: NIR-ICG imaging for anastomotic perfusion assessment after discoid or segmental resection for RSE seems to be a feasible, safe, and reproducible method.