Feasibility and educational value of fluorescence cholangiography in laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Introduction: Near-infrared fluorescence cholangiography during a laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become widely accepted as a useful auxiliary tool to visualize the extrahepatic biliary structures. We investigated the feasibility and educational value of a method with longer interval between the administration of indocyanine green and the imaging of these structures. Methods: Approximately 18 hours before their surgery, patients (n = 51) were intravenously administered 0.25 mg/kg of indocyanine green. Each laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed under fluorescence imaging in combination with white-light imaging. Operative outcomes including visualization of the extrahepatic biliary structures and operative time were compared between the patients on whom board-certified surgeons operated (feasibility phase; n = 18) and the patients on whom a surgery resident operated (educational phase; n = 33). Results: There were no adverse events related to the longer interval method. The visualization rates of extrahepatic biliary structures were comparable between the two phases. Both the mean time to divide the cystic duct and the mean time to remove the gallbladder in the educational phase were significantly longer than those in the feasibility phase (68.2 vs 24.4 minutes and 30.2 vs 15.8 minutes, P < .001 each). There was no significant difference in other operative outcomes. The operative time learning curve did not decrease with a resident's experience. Conclusions: Fluorescence cholangiography with the longer interval method was feasible and could identify the extrahepatic biliary structures irrespective of the surgeon's experience; however, it did not decrease the operative time with experience.