Clinical utility of near-infrared perfusion assessment of the gastric tube during Ivor Lewis esophagectomy

Background Anastomotic leakage (AL) after Ivor Lewis esophagectomy with intrathoracic anastomosis carries a significant morbidity. Adequate perfusion of the gastric tube (GT) is an important predictor of anastomotic integrity. Recently, near infrared fluorescent (NIRF) imaging using indocyanine green (ICG) was introduced in clinical practice to evaluate tissue perfusion. We evaluated the feasibility and efficacy of GT indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) after Ivor Lewis esophagectomy. Methods This retrospective analysis used data from a prospectively kept database of consecutive patients who underwent Ivor Lewis (IL) esophagectomy with GT construction for cancer between January 2016 and December 2020. Relevant outcomes were feasibility, ICGA complications and the impact of ICGA on AL. Results 266 consecutive IL patients were identified who matched the inclusion criteria. The 115 patients operated with perioperative ICGA were compared to a control group in whom surgery was performed according to the standard of care. ICGA perfusion assessment was feasible and safe in all 115 procedures and suggested a poorly perfused tip in 56/115 (48.7%) cases, for which additional resection was performed. The overall AL rate was 16% (43/266), with 12% (33/266) needing an endoscopic our surgical intervention and 6% (17/266) needing ICU support. In univariable and multivariable analyses, ICGA was not correlated with the risk of AL (ICGA:14.8% vs non-ICGA:17.2%, p = 0.62). However, poor ICGA perfusion of the GT predicted a higher AL rate, despite additional resection of the tip (ICGA poorly perfused: 19.6% vs ICG well perfused: 10.2%, p = 0.19). Conclusions ICGA is safe and feasible, but did not result in a reduction of AL. The interpretation and necessary action in case of perioperative presence of ischemia on ICGA have yet to be determined. Prospective randomized trials are warranted to analyze its benefit on AL in esophageal surgery. Trial registration Ethical approval for a prospective esophageal surgery database was granted by the Ethical committee of the Ghent University Hospital. Belgian registration number: B670201111232. Ethical approval for this retrospective data analysis was granted by our institutional EC. Registration number: BC-09216.