title: Fluorescent cholangiography illuminating the biliary tree during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although intraoperative cholangiography has been recommended for avoiding bile duct injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy, radiographic cholangiography is time consuming and may itself cause injury to the bile duct. Recently, a novel fluorescent cholangiography technique using the intravenous injection of indocyanine green (ICG) has been developed.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 52 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy, 2.5 mg ICG was injected intravenously 30 min before the patient entered the operating room or following intubation. A fluorescent imaging system, which consisted of a xenon light source and a laparoscope with a charge-coupled device camera that could filter out light wavelengths below 810 nm, was used. Fluorescent cholangiography was performed during dissection of Calot's triangle, and its ability to delineate biliary anatomy was compared with that of preoperative cholangiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fluorescent cholangiography delineated the cystic duct in all 52 patients, and the cystic duct-common hepatic duct junction was visible before dissection of Calot's triangle in 50 patients. Fluorescent imaging also identified all accessory bile ducts that had been diagnosed before surgery in eight patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fluorescent cholangiography enables real-time identification of biliary anatomy during dissection of Calot's triangle. This simple technique may become standard practice for avoiding bile duct injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy, replacing radiographic cholangiography.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Central Hospital of Social Health Insurance, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishizawa
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bandai
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ijichi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaneko
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kokudo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001649:Bile Duct Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D001659:Biliary Tract / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002758:Cholangiography / Q000379:methods*; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000379:methods*; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005260:Female; D005453:Fluorescence; D006801:Humans; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015641:Radiography, Interventional
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D007208:Indocyanine Green