A novel method for determining adjacent lung segments with infrared thoracoscopy
Received 7 August 2008; received in revised form 4 December 2008; accepted 4 January 2009. published online 09 March 2009.
Objectives
We investigated a new technique for identifying the lung intersegmental line using infrared thoracoscopy with intravenous injection of indocyanine green.
Methods
This was an experimental animal study, and target segments were established preoperatively. Six adult beagle dogs underwent thoracotomy. After the corresponding pulmonary artery of the target segment had been ligated, indocyanine green was administered intravenously during infrared thoracoscopy. The lung was separated into 2 areas, white and blue, according to the blood flow on the monitor. We marked the visceral pleura with electrocautery along the transition zone showing a change in color from blue to white. The experimental lung was removed and subjected to pathologic and radiologic analysis.
Results
After injection of indocyanine green, infrared thoracoscopy showed that the area of normal perfusion changed to blue, whereas the area at which perfusion was absent remained white. The transition zone between colors was distinct, and the blue stain remained visible during the marking procedure. Three-dimensional computed tomographic analysis indicated that the marking separated the target segmental bronchus from the adjacent one. Detailed macroscopic and microscopic study confirmed that the marking corresponded to the intersegmental line.
Conclusion
By using infrared thoracoscopy with indocyanine green, it is possible to detect the intersegmental line without inflating the lung.
aSecond Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Kagawa, Japan
bDepartment of Nursing, Kagawa Prefectural College of Health Sciences, Kagawa, Japan
Address for reprints: Hiroyasu Yokomise, MD, PhD, Second Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki-cho, Kita-gun, Kagawa 761-0793, Japan.
ABSTRACT