Intraoperative near-infrared indocyanine green fluorescence angiography (NIR-ICG AG) can predict delayed small bowel stricture after ischemic intestinal injury: report of a case.

We herein report the case of a 15-year-old male who developed delayed intestinal stricture after undergoing massive intestinal resection due to severe small intestinal volvulus. At the time of the initial surgery, the laparotomy findings showed a massive intestinal volvulus without malrotation. Most of the small intestine appeared to be necrotic; therefore, massive necrotic intestinal resection was performed. The residual intestine comprised only the proximal jejunum and short ileum, including the ileocecal valve and entire colon. After the resection, the serosal surface color of the distal part of the residual jejunum (DPRJ) initially showed a slightly darker hue than normal. However, the color improved with time, and the other clinical findings also improved, which were considered to indicate that the perfusion of the DPRJ was preserved. The perfusion of that area was therefore clinically expected to improve with time. On the other hand, repeated intraoperative near-infrared indocyanine green fluorescence angiography (NIR-ICG AG) consistently showed abnormal vascular flow patterns in the same region, which were suspected to indicate the presence of perfusion damage of the DPRJ, in spite of improvements in the clinical findings. Although the necessity of additional resection was discussed at the time of reconstruction, we finally estimated that the perfusion of the DPRJ was preserved, mainly based on the improvement of the clinical findings of the intestine. The primary anastomosis was performed without additional resection, to maximize the lengths of the residual intestine. However, after the initial surgery, the patient developed a delayed partial stricture of the residual intestine, and an additional resection was necessary on the 22nd postoperative day. The stricture segment corresponded to the area that presented abnormal findings by NIR-ICG AG. This case suggests that abnormal NIR-ICG AG findings may predict delayed intestinal ischemic complications. We believe that NIR-ICG AG can intraoperatively provide more useful real time information for the assessment of intestinal perfusion, than conventional clinical assessment methods.