Fernando Dip1,2, Daniel Rosenthal3, Mariano Socolovsky4, Jorge Falco2, Martin De la Fuente5, Kevin P White6, Raul J Rosenthal7. 1. Florida Department of General Surgery, Cleveland Clnic Florida, 2950 Cleveland Clinic Boulevard, Weston, FL, 33331, USA. 2. Instituto Argentino de Diagnóstico y Tratamiento Buenos Aires Argentina, Av. Córdoba 2351, C1121ABJ CABA, Buenos Aires, Argentina. 3. Spine Section, Hochtaunuskliniken, Bad Homburg, Germany. 4. Division of Neurosurgery, University of Buenos Aires School of Medicine, Buenos Aires, Argentina. 5. Department of Surgery, Hospital de Clínicas José de San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina. 6. ScienceRight Research Consulting, 195 Dufferin Ave., #605, London, ON, N6A 1X7, Canada. 7. Florida Department of General Surgery, Cleveland Clnic Florida, 2950 Cleveland Clinic Boulevard, Weston, FL, 33331, USA. ROSENTR@ccf.org.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Nerve visualization and the identification of other neural tissues during surgery is crucial for numerous reasons, including the prevention of iatrogenic nerve and neural structure injury and facilitation of nerve repair. However, current methods of intra-operative nerve detection are generally expensive, unproven, and/or technically challenging. Recently, we have documented, in both in vivo animal models and ex vivo human tissue, that nerves autofluorescence when viewed in near-ultraviolet light (NUV). In this paper, we describe our use of nerve autofluorescence to facilitate the visualization of nerves and other neural tissues intra-operatively in 17 patients undergoing a range of surgical procedures. METHODS: Employing the same prototype axon imaging system previously documented to markedly enhance nerve visualization in both in vivo animal and ex vivo human models, surgical fields were observed in 17 patients under both white and NUV light during parotid tumor resection (n = 3), thyroid tumor resection (n = 7), and surgery for peripheral nerve and spinal tumors and injury (n = 7). RESULTS: In all 17 patients, the intra-operative use of the imaging system both was feasible and markedly enhanced the localization of all neural tissues throughout their course within the surgical field. All 17 procedures were successful and devoid of any peri-operative complications or post-operative neurological deficits. CONCLUSIONS: Intra-operatively visualizing auto-fluorescent peripheral nerves and other neural tissues under NUV light is feasible in human patients across a range of clinical scenarios and appears to appreciably enhance nerve and other neural tissue visualization. Controlled studies to explore this technology further are needed.
BACKGROUND: Nerve visualization and the identification of other neural tissues during surgery is crucial for numerous reasons, including the prevention of iatrogenic nerve and neural structure injury and facilitation of nerve repair. However, current methods of intra-operative nerve detection are generally expensive, unproven, and/or technically challenging. Recently, we have documented, in both in vivo animal models and ex vivo human tissue, that nerves autofluorescence when viewed in near-ultraviolet light (NUV). In this paper, we describe our use of nerve autofluorescence to facilitate the visualization of nerves and other neural tissues intra-operatively in 17 patients undergoing a range of surgical procedures. METHODS: Employing the same prototype axon imaging system previously documented to markedly enhance nerve visualization in both in vivo animal and ex vivo human models, surgical fields were observed in 17 patients under both white and NUV light during parotid tumor resection (n = 3), thyroid tumor resection (n = 7), and surgery for peripheral nerve and spinal tumors and injury (n = 7). RESULTS: In all 17 patients, the intra-operative use of the imaging system both was feasible and markedly enhanced the localization of all neural tissues throughout their course within the surgical field. All 17 procedures were successful and devoid of any peri-operative complications or post-operative neurological deficits. CONCLUSIONS: Intra-operatively visualizing auto-fluorescent peripheral nerves and other neural tissues under NUV light is feasible in human patients across a range of clinical scenarios and appears to appreciably enhance nerve and other neural tissue visualization. Controlled studies to explore this technology further are needed.
Authors: Fernando Dip; Daniel Rosenthal; Mariano Socolovsky; Jorge Falco; Martin De la Fuente; Kevin P White; Raul J Rosenthal Journal: Surg Endosc Date: 2021-10-25 Impact factor: 3.453
Authors: Fernando Dip; Daniel Rosenthal; Mariano Socolovsky; Jorge Falco; Martin De la Fuente; Kevin P White; Raul J Rosenthal Journal: Surg Endosc Date: 2021-10-25 Impact factor: 3.453