Near-infrared fluorescence laparoscopy of the ureter with three preclinical dyes in a pig model

BackgroundUreteric injury is reported to occur in 1-7.6% of colorectal surgeries. To reduce the incidence of ureteral injury, it is essential to identify the ureters. The use of near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging with intravenously administered dyes might be of added value for ureteral visualization during laparoscopy. The aim of this study is to assess the performance of three preclinical dyes; IRDye((R)) 800BK, IRDye((R)) 800NOS and IRDye((R)) 800CW, for near-infrared fluorescence laparoscopy of the ureter in pigs.MethodsIn three female Dutch landrace pigs, the new dyes were evaluated. In each pig, 1 dye was tested using a 6-mg intravenous dose in a concentration of 1mg/ml. Imaging was performed in fluorescence mode and white light mode with a laparoscopic imaging system. In order to further evaluate the dyes, an ex vivo imaging experiment was performed, in which 8 decreasing concentrations per dye, diluted in PBS, were evaluated in a transparent test tube with NIRF mode at a distance of 1, 5 and 10cm from the laparoscope.ResultsAll three dyes were effective in allowing the identification of the ureter with NIRF imaging. The ureter became fluorescent after 35, 45 and 10min, respectively, for IRDye((R)) 800BK, IRDye((R)) 800NOS and IRDye((R)) 800CW with a maximum target-to-background ratio (TBR) of 2.14, 0.66 and 1.44, respectively. In the ex vivo imaging experiment, all three dyes produced a strong fluorescence signal at all concentrations and all distances evaluated.ConclusionsIntravenous administration of the preclinical dyes IRDye((R)) 800CW, IRDye((R)) 800 BK and IRDye((R)) 800NOS facilitated successful identification of the anatomical course of the ureter in living pig models. The highest measured TBR occurred with the use of IRDye((R)) 800BK. Ex vivo, a correlation was observed between the fluorescence intensities of the signal with the concentration of the dye and with the distance to the object.