Research Article
Thoracoscopic Anatomical Lung Segmentectomy using Fluorescence Navigation with Indocyanine Green
Mingyon Mun*, Sakae Okumura, Masayuki Nakao, Yosuke Matsuura, Junji Ichinose and Ken Nakagawa
Department of Thoracic Surgical Oncology, Cancer Institute Hospital, Japan
*Corresponding author: Mingyon Mun, Department of Thoracic Surgical Oncology, The Cancer Institute Hospital, 3-10-6 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-8550, Japan
Published: 05 Dec, 2016
Cite this article as: Mun M, Okumura S, Nakao M,
Matsuura Y, Ichinose J, Nakagawa
K. Thoracoscopic Anatomical Lung
Segmentectomy using Fluorescence
Navigation with Indocyanine Green.
Clin Surg. 2016; 1: 1204.
Abstract
Purpose: Detection of the intersegmental line during thoracoscopic segmentectomy is sometimes difficult. We describe a newly evolved technology using indocyanine green (ICG)-fluorescence
navigation during this procedure.
Description: We performed thoracoscopic right segments 8 and 9 anatomical segmentectomy on
a 48-year-old man with pulmonary metastasis of osteosarcoma. Preoperative three-dimensional
computed tomography revealed the relationships of the pulmonary artery and vein and segmental
bronchi, and revealed the surgical margin of the segmental plane to measure 10 mm. During surgery,
we separated the pulmonary artery, and then injected ICG 0.25 mg/kg into a peripheral vein. Using
the KARL STORZ ICG system (KARL STORZ Endoscopy, Tokyo, Japan), we could observe that
the residual segments were light and S8 and S9 were dark. We cut along the border created by this
contrast, the intersegmental line, using electrocautery.
Evaluation: This new technology allows easy detection of an intersegmental line and safe
performance of thoracoscopic anatomical segmentectomy. Because this method does not require
inflation of the lung, it is useful for thoracoscopic surgery.
Conclusion: Intraoperative ICG-fluorescence navigation is useful in thoracoscopic segmentectomy.
Introduction
Correct diagnosis of peripheral small nodules, such as ground grass opacities (GGOs) and
metastatic pulmonary tumors, is sometimes difficult preoperatively. However, most patients
with these findings on multi detector-row computed tomography (MDCT) frequently undergo
pulmonary resection to obtain pathological diagnosis and radical cure. Sub-lobar resection, such as
segmentectomy or wedge resection must be performed in patients with small-sized peripheral lung
tumors on preoperative MDCT.
Anatomical segmentectomy is a technically more complicated operative procedure than
standard lobectomy because of anatomical variances. Our new methods may help to perform
thoracoscopic (TS) anatomical segmentectomy. We report the successful segment (S) 8 + S9 TS
segmentectomy in a patient with pulmonary metastasis of osteosarcoma.
Materials and Methods
A 48-year-old man underwent radical resection of the hip musculature for alveolar soft part
sarcoma 4 years before being admitted to our hospital for treatment of a suspected pulmonary
metastatic tumor in the right lung. Chest MDCT revealed a tumor measuring 5 mm located
in S8, near to S9 (Figure 1A). Based on three-dimensional CT reconstruction using Synapse
Vincent (Fujifilm Corp., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan), we clearly visualized the space enclosed by three
intrapulmonary structures (pulmonary artery [A], veins [V], and bronchi [B]) that intersect in B8
and B9: A8 and A9 along with the bronchus, and V8 and V9 (Figure 1B). In addition, we were
able to delineate the arterial dominant area (A8 and A9) and margin length from this nodule to
an imaginary segmental boundary (10 mm) (Figure 1C). We decided to perform thoracoscopic
anatomical S8+S9 segmentectomy for this patient. To identify segmental plane, we used the ICG
fluorescence navigation after dividing segmental artery. After intra-venous injection, if infrared
light is lighted, ICG fluorescence will be lighted clearly under the infrared thoracoscopy produced
by KARL STORZ.
Thoracoscopic procedure
The surgical procedure was performed entirely under thoracoscopic visualization via four incisions measuring 25, 15, 7 and 7 mm.
Figure 1
Figure 1
A) Chest CT identifies a small nodule in the right S8 segment, extremely close to the S9 segment. CT, computed tomography.
B) Threedimensional reconstruction image shows two tributaries of A9 arterial branches from peripheral A8.
C) Preoperative simulation of the arterial (A8 plus A9) dominant area.
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 3
(A) Intraoperative ICG fluorescence and intersegmental line. Dark area is S8+S9.
(B) Final aspect after segments S8+S9 anatomical segmentectomy. ICG, indocyanine green.
Results
The preoperative simulation accurately predicted our intraoperative findings, including the locations of A7, A8, and two branches of A9 (Figure 2). Intersegmental veins V7b and V9b were preserved and intrasegmental (between S8 and S9) vein V8 and V9a draining S8 and S9 were ligated and divided. The intersegmental line was identified using the intersegmental veins near the hilum and the demarcation, which was completed ten seconds after systemic ICG injection (0.25 mg/kg) (Figure 3A), on the lung parenchyma. The ICG fluorescence was visible for four minutes after injection, so we marked the lung surface using electrocautery. The intersegmental plane of the parenchyma was divided using electrocautery at 70W and one endoscopic staple (Figure 3B). The patient’s postoperative course was uneventful, and he was discharged on the postoperative day 8. The final pathological diagnosis was metastasis of osteosarcoma, and the surgical margin was 9 mm.
Discussion
Sub-lobar resection may be well adapted to small-sized peripheral
lung tumors such as GGO lesions or metastatic lung tumors if surgical
margins are sufficient. However, if it is difficult to keep sufficient
surgical margin by wedge resection, we should sometimes perform
anatomical segmentectomy. We emphasize four preoperative and
intraoperative principles in our TS anatomical segmentectomy: (a) to
map the pulmonary vessels accurately; (b) to detect the intersegmental
veins; (c) to identify precisely the segmental plane, and (d) to obtain
an adequate surgical margin.
Some authors have reported preoperative prediction of
pulmonary structures for video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS)
or thoracotomy segmentectomy [1-3]. Understanding of the
variations in individual anatomy of pulmonary vessels and bronchi
is important for safety, especially when performing anatomical
segmentectomy. Sagi et al. [3] reported that preoperative and
intraoperative guidance by virtual segmentectomy using Synapse
Vincent (Fujifilm Corp., Ltd.) could significantly assist surgeons in
achieving the most appropriate anatomical and curative resection.
To identify the inter-segmental line, the method of target-segment
inflation by jet ventilation or needle insertion has been reported
[4]. However, this method is sometimes difficult to employ with a
severely emphysematous lung and when visualization is limited, such
as with VATS. Previously we used needle insertion to the resected
segmental bronchus to create an inflation-deflation line, but there
are some reports of cerebellar air embolism after needle inflation
method [5,6]. Therefore, another method should be used to detect
the intersegmental line. Misaki et al. [7] conducted a clinical trial of
segmentectomy using an infrared thoracoscopy system with ICG.
Each bronchus is associated with a pulmonary artery. They have
succeeded in visualizing the differential blood flow of the pulmonary
artery in the lung using infrared thoracoscopy with injection of ICG
(3 mg/kg). Detailed macroscopic and microscopic examination
confirmed that the marking corresponded to the intersegmental line.
In the present study, we visualized the intersegmental line quickly
and clearly using the KARL STORZ ICG system with injection of a
low dose of ICG (0.25 mg/kg). This method, which does not require
lung inflation, may be useful for a severely emphysematous lung
and for TS with deflated lung. Thus preoperative surgical-planning
simulation evaluated by three-dimensional CT and intraoperative
ICG navigation may be useful for anatomical segmentectomy during
TS. The boundary created by using ICG and the identification of the
intersegmental veins provide accurate delineation of the segmental
plane and offset the disadvantages of a two-dimensional view.
Conclusion
We have described a new technology providing preoperative simulation based on three-dimensional CT and intraoperative ICG fluorescence navigation during TS. Intraoperative ICG-fluorescence navigation may contribute to the safety and accuracy of TS anatomical segmentectomy.
References
- Fukuhara K, Akashi A, Nakane S, Tomita E. Preoperative assessment of the pulmonary artery by three-dimensional computed tomography before video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2008; 34: 875-877.
- Oizumi H, Endoh M, Takeda S, Suzuki J, Fukaya K, Sadahiro M. Anatomical lung segmentectomy simulated by computed tomographic angiography. Ann Thorac Surg. 2010; 90: 1382-1383.
- Saji H, Inoue T, Kato Y, Shimada Y, Hagiwara M, Kudo Y, et al. Virtual segmentectomy based on high-quality three-dimensional lung modelling from computed tomography images. Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2013; 17: 227-232.
- Okada M, Miura T, Ikegaki J, Katoh H, Itoh H, Tsubota N. A novel videoassisted anatomic segmentectomy technique: Selective segmental inflation via bronchofiberotic jet followed by cautery cutting. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2007; 133: 753-758.
- Kiribayashi M, Nakasone M, Moriyama N, Mochida S, Yamasaki K, Minami Y, et al. Multiple cerebral infarction by air embolism associated with remarkable low BIS value during lung segmentectomy with video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) technique: a case report. Masui. 2010; 59: 480-483.
- Otsuka T, Nakamura Y, Harada A, Sato M. Extremely rare but potential complication of diffuse brain edema due to air embolism during lung segmentectomy with selected segmental inflation technique by syringe needle during video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2011; 142: e151-e152.
- Misaki N, Sung Soo Chang, Igai H, Tarumi S, Gotoh M, Yokomise H. New clinically applicable method for visualizing adjacent lung segments using an infrared thoracoscopy system. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2010; 140: 752-756.