Objective Flap Assessment During Reconstructive Surgery

To perform a pilot study of the FLARE™ NIR fluorescence imaging system in conjunction with indocyanine green (ICG) during breast reconstructive surgery utilizing deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flaps.

Due to patient-to-patient anatomic variation, the vascular perfusion to the cutaneous elements in flaps is unpredictable and of great concern to the surgeon planning the design of the flap. We propose a method of imaging the flap based on the use of invisible near-infrared fluorescent light that has significant advantages for both patient and surgeon.

Specific Aims:

A pilot optimization study of the imaging system in combination with ICG to determine optimal dose, light excitation fluence rate, and camera exposure time.