LASER-ASSISTED-INDOCYANINE-GREEN-ANGIOGRAPHY VERSUS CONVENTIONAL ASSESSMENT TO PREDICT OR LOCATE NECROTIC AREAS ON MASTECTOMY FLAPS: A PROSPECTIVE CLINICAL TRIAL

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether laser-assisted-indocyanine-green-angiography (LA-ICGA) could accurately predict flap necrosis in comparison to conventional clinical assessment and visually identify its location during immediate reconstruction following a nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM). Methods: Twenty-one patients with breast cancer were prospectively enrolled to undergo NSM with immediate implant reconstruction. In 19 cases LA-ICGA numbers were used to show the level of laser absorption of hypo-perfused areas on the mastectomy flaps. Those numbers were compared to conventional assessment to assess the predictive value of LA-ICGA. Results: Of the 19 mastectomy flaps, 3 (15.8\%) examples of partial skin flap necrosis with an LA-ICGA value of <= 7 was observed. The sensitivity, specificity, false-positive rate, and accuracy of LA-ICGA were 43\%, 100\%, 57\%, and 79\%, respectively. Patients with an LA-ICGA value of <= 7 were found more likely to develop mastectomy flap necrosis, whereas patients aged >60 or, a history of smoking, a BMI >30, or intraoperative use of tumescence solution containing epinephrine were more likely to have an LA-ICGA score <= 7 which is not clinically reliable in predicting necrosis. Conclusion: Our results indicate that a low LA-ICGA score <= 7 is the only significant factor in predicting mastectomy flap necrosis. LA-ICGA could accurately show the location of necrosis.