Time required for indocyanine green fluorescence emission for evaluating bowel perfusion in left-sided colon and rectal cancer surgery

Background Indocyanine green fluorescence imaging (ICG-FI) has been reported to be useful in reducing the incidence of anastomotic leakage (AL) in colectomy. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between the required time for ICG fluorescence emission and AL in left-sided colon and rectal cancer surgery using the double-stapling technique (DST) anastomosis. Methods This retrospective study included 217 patients with colorectal cancer who underwent left-sided colon and rectal surgery using ICG-FI-based perfusion assessment at our department between November 2018 and July 2022. We recorded the time required to achieve maximum fluorescence emission after ICG systemic injection and assessed its correlation with the occurrence of AL. Results Among 217 patients, AL occurred in 21 patients (9.7%). The median time from ICG administration to maximum fluorescence emission was 32 s (range 25–58 s) in the AL group and 28 s (range 10–45 s) in the non-AL group ( p < 0.001). The cut-off value for the presence of AL obtained from the ROC curve was 31 s. In 58 patients with a required time for ICG fluorescence of 31 s or longer, the following risk factors for AL were identified: low preoperative albumin [3.4 mg/dl (range 2.6–4.4) vs. 3.9 mg/dl (range 2.6–4.9), p = 0.016], absence of preoperative mechanical bowel preparation (53.8% vs. 91.1%, p = 0.005), obstructive tumor (61.5% vs. 17.8%, p = 0.004), and larger tumor diameter [65 mm (range 40–90) vs. 35 mm (range 4.0–100), p < 0.001]. Conclusion The time required for ICG fluorescence emission was associated with AL.