Application of Indocyanine Green Fluorescence as an Adjuvant to Laparoscopic Ultrasound in Minimally Invasive Liver Resection.

Background: Indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging has been extensively used in a variety of applications in visceral surgery. In minimally invasive liver resections, the detection of small superficial hepatic lesions using an intravenous injection of ICG before surgery represents a promising application. Methods: We analyzed 18 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic liver resection for superficial malignant tumors, namely 11 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), 5 patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM), 1 patient with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), and 1 patient with thyroid cancer metastasis, using ICG fluorescence as an adjuvant tool to intraoperative laparoscopic ultrasound (LUS). Results: An optimal ICG 15-minute clearance retention rate (R15 < 10%) and ICG plasma disappearance rate (<18%/minute) were present in 11 patients (61.1%) and in 14 patients (77.7%), respectively. Liver tumors were 29 in total, including 14 HCCs (48.3%), 13 CRLMs (44.8%), 1 ICC (3.4%), and 1 thyroid cancer metastasis (3.4%). Twenty-nine tumors (100%) were correctly visualized with ICG/fluorescence, as compared with 21 tumors identified with LUS (72.4%). After complete liver mobilization, ICG staining allowed to identify more superficial lesions (early HCC and small CRLM) in posterolateral segments (Segments 6 and 7) as compared with LUS (14 versus 10 lesions). In addition, in segments usually treated laparoscopically (e.g., left lateral segments), ICG was superior to LUS (10 versus 6 lesions) to identify superficial early HCC in patients with macronodular cirrhosis. Conclusions: ICG visual feedback might substitute the tactile feedback of the hand and might in some cases act as a "booster" of LUS for superficial hepatic lesions.

Right sided diverticulitis in western countries: A review.

BACKGROUND: Although the treatment guidelines for left sided diverticulitis are clear, the management of right colonic diverticulitis is not well established. This disease can no longer be ignored due to significant spread throughout Asia. AIM: To analyse epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of right-sided diverticulitis in western countries. METHODS: MEDLINE and PubMed searches were performed using the key words "right-sided diverticulitis'', ''right colon diverticulitis'', ''caecal diverticulitis'', ''ascending colon diverticulitis'' and ''caecum diverticula'' in order to find relevant articles published until 2021. RESULTS: A total of 18 studies with 422 patients were found. Correct diagnosis was made only in 32.2%, mostly intraoperatively or via CT scan. The main reason for misdiagnosis was a suspected acute appendicitis (56.8%). The treatment was a non-operative management (NOM) in 184 patients (43.6%) and surgical in 238 patients (56.4%), seven of which after NOM failure. Recurrence rate was low (5.45%), similar to eastern studies and inferior to left -sided diverticulitis. Recurrent patients were successfully conservatively retreated in most cases. CONCLUSION: The management of right- sided diverticulitis is not well clarified in the western world and no selective guidelines have been considered even if principles are similar to those with left- sided diverticulitis. Wrong diagnosis is one of the most important problems and CT scan seems to be the best imaging modality. NOM offers a safe and effective treatment; surgery should be considered only in cases of complicated diverticulitis or if malignancy cannot be excluded. Further studies are needed to clarify the correct treatment.