Near-Infrared Intraoperative Imaging of Pelvic Autonomic Nerves:Clinical Trial

Abstract Background: The pelvic autonomic nerves control and regulate anorectal and urogenital function. The dysfunction of pelvic autonomic nerves lead to disorders of anorectum, bladder and male sex organs. Thus the intraoperative identification of pelvic autonomic nerves could be crucial in complications prevention and diseases treatment. Our clinical trial aims at estimating the effectiveness and validity of intraoperative indocyanine green fluorescence imaging in pelvic autonomic nerves identification.Methods: Intraoperative fluorescence imaging using indocyanine green was performed in 10 patients and the feasibility was determined. From February 2019 to June 2019, the 10 patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectectomy was administrated 4.5 mg/Kg indocyanine green 24 hours before surgery. The near-infrared fluorescence imaging was conducted during surgery. A novel white light and near-infrared dual-channel laparoscopic equipment was applied. For each patient, signal background ratio values for pelvic autonomic nerves were recorded and analyzed.Results: We confirmed the best dose and timing of indocyanine green administration was 4.5 mg/Kg and 24 hours before surgery. Using the dual laparoscopic equipment, we could observe the splanchnic plexus, inferior mesenteric artery plexus, and sacral plexus successfully with a high signal background ratio value of 3.18 (standard deviation: 0.48). Conclusion: Pelvic autonomic nerves could be observed using indocyanine green fluorescence imaging during surgery. The novel method may replace the current visual identification method and become the standard clinical practice.