[Usefulness of indocyanine green (ICG) in robotic reconstructive surgery.]

Abstract

The experience with robotic reconstructive surgery has been reported previously. Many studies have demonstrated that the use of robotic surgery for those procedures is safe and effective. However, the characteristics related to those cases, make reconstructive surgery a very complex procedure that is usually managed in some referral centers only. Indocyanin green (ICG) is a substance that could be visualized using near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF). This fluorescence could help the surgeon for orientation and evaluation of viability of the tissues. OBJECTIVE: This article describes the literature and our experience using ICG for reconstructive surgery of the ureter. METHODS: We describe the literature and our approach for the evaluation and treatment of the ureteral stricture using ICG. CONCLUSION: The use of ICG has demonstrate to be safe, easy to perform and reproducible. In this article, we showed the ICG usefulness for complex reconstructive cases. Prospective studies with long follow up and bigger simple will permit a better evaluation of its results.