The application of laser-assisted indocyanine green fluorescent dye angiography in microsurgical breast reconstruction

The benefits of laser-assisted indocyanine green fluorescence angiography have previously been demonstrated in cardiac surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine the value of this technology in microsurgical breast reconstruction. Intraoperative laser-assisted indocyanine green fluorescence angiography was performed on all microsurgical breast reconstruction cases (deep inferior epigastric perforator flap or free transverse rectus abdominus muscle flap) during the study period. Ten consecutive free tissue transfer autologous breast reconstructions were performed on 8 women. In four cases, imaging demonstrated flow or perfusion deemed "marginal" or "poor" by the operating surgeons. In three of these cases, one involving poor arterial inflow, one of poor venous outflow, and one of poor perfusion of a mastectomy flap, the intraoperative plan was adjusted accordingly and follow-up imaging demonstrated improvement. In the fourth case, no adjustment was made at operation. However this patient required a return to the operating room for venous congestion of the flap, which was corrected without sequela. Overall flap survival was 100%. We concluded that laser-assisted indocyanine green fluorescence angiography appears to provide important information that has helped guide intraoperative decision making in our series.