Thoracic Duct Lymphography by Near-Infrared Indocyanine Green Fluorescence imaging in Thoracic Surgery. A Review

Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging with indocyanine green dye (ICG) is an emerging technology in detecting the anatomy of the thoracic duct; hence, it can be useful for the identification of the thoracic duct in real time and prevention of its injury during thoracic surgery. It helps to localize thoracic duct injury, identifying chyle leaks in difficult, recurrent, and refractory cases. This review paper provides insights regarding the current applications, advantages, and potential developments of NIR fluorescence imaging with ICG in recognizing thoracic duct during thoracic surgery.