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Precision image-guided colonic surgery: proof of concept for enhanced preoperative and intraoperative vascular imaging

Surgical Endoscopy volume 35, pages 962–970 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Colorectal surgery has benefited from advances in precision medicine such as total mesorectal resection, and recently, mesocolon resection, fluorescent perfusion imaging, and fluorescent node mapping. However, these advances fail to address the variable quality of mesocolon dissection and the directed extent of vascular dissection (including high ligation) or pre-resection anastomotic perfusion mapping, thereby impacting anastomotic leaks. We propose a new paradigm of precision image-directed colorectal surgery involving 3D preoperative resection modeling and intraoperative fluoroscopic and fluorescence vascular imaging which better defines optimal dissection planes and vascular vs. anatomy-based resection lines according to our hypothesis.

Methods

Six pigs had preoperative CT with vascular 3D reconstruction allowing for the preoperative planning of vascular-based dissection. Laparoscopic surgery was performed in a hybrid operating room (OR). Superselective arterial catheterization was performed in branches of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) or the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA). Intraoperative boluses of 0.1 mg/kg or a continuous infusion of indocyanine green (ICG) (0.01 mg/mL) were administered to guide fluorescent-based sigmoid and ileocecal resections. Fluorescence was assessed using proprietary software at several regions of interest (ROI) in the right and left colon.

Results

The approach was feasible and safe. Selective catheterization took an average of 43 min. Both bolus and continuous perfusion clearly marked pre-identified vessels (arteries/veins) and the target colon segment, facilitating precise resections based on the visible vascular anatomy. Quantitative software analysis indicated the optimal resection margin for each ROI.

Conclusion

Intra-arterial fluorescent mapping allows visualization of major vascular structures and segmental colonic perfusion. This may help to prevent any inadvertent injury to major vascular structures and to precisely determine perfusion-based resection planes and margins. This could enable tailoring of the amount of colon resected, ensure good anastomotic perfusion, and improve oncological outcomes.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Guy Temporal, professional in Medical English proofreading for his assistance with manuscript edition.

Funding

This study was partly funded by the IHU Strasbourg through the ANR Grant 10-IAHU-0002 and partly by the ARC Foundation for Cancer Research (9, rue Guy Môquet, BP 90003, 94803 Villejuif Cedex, France), via the ELIOS Grant (PI Michele Diana).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Image-Guided Surgery, IHU Strasbourg, 1, place de l’Hôpital, 67091, Strasbourg, France

    Antonello Forgione, Manuel Barberio, Vincent Agnus, Lee Swanström, Jacques Marescaux, Michele Diana & Benoit Gallix

  2. IRCAD, Research Institute against Digestive Cancer, Strasbourg, France

    Jacques Marescaux & Michele Diana

  3. Department of General, Digestive, and Endocrine Surgery, University Hospital of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France

    Michele Diana

  4. ICUBE Laboratory, Photonics Instrumentation for Health, Strasbourg, France

    Michele Diana

  5. University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France

    Benoit Gallix

  6. University Hospital of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France

    Benoit Gallix

  7. Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada

    Benoit Gallix

Authors
  1. Antonello Forgione
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  2. Manuel Barberio
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  3. Vincent Agnus
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  4. Lee Swanström
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  5. Jacques Marescaux
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  6. Michele Diana
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  7. Benoit Gallix
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Antonello Forgione.

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Disclosures

Michele Diana is member of the Scientific Board of Diagnostic Green. Michele Diana is the recipient of a grant from the ARC Foundation (https://www.fondation-arc.org/) for the ELIOS (Endoscopic Luminescent Imaging for precision Oncologic Surgery) project. Jacques Marescaux is the President of the IRCAD Institute, which is partly funded by KARL STORZ and Medtronic. Lee Swanström consults for Medtronic, Boston Scientific, and Olympus. Antonello Forgione, Manuel Barberio, Vincent Agnus, and Benoit Gallix have nothing to disclose.

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Forgione, A., Barberio, M., Agnus, V. et al. Precision image-guided colonic surgery: proof of concept for enhanced preoperative and intraoperative vascular imaging. Surg Endosc 35, 962–970 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-020-08000-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-020-08000-w

Keywords

  • Fluorescence-guided surgery
  • Indocyanine green
  • Intra-arterial fluorescence
  • Fluorescence-guided colonic resection
  • Endovascular procedure
  • Hybrid OR