Typically used in free flap surgery, INFRARED 800 from ZEISS enables fluorescence-assisted assessment of blood flow after an anastomosis has been created and visualizes the vascular patency of the grafted tissue.
A 2012 study by Holzbach et al.17 demonstrates that ICG fluorescence angiography is a useful, expeditious, and safe procedure in flap surgery, especially in intraoperative use. The findings of Mücke et al. show that FLOW 800 constitutes a reliable analysis tool for intraoperative flap perfusion monitoring,18 as well as for intraoperative thrombosis detection.19 A 2014 study by Yamamoto et al.20 found that intraoperative ICG lymphography facilitates identification of lymphatic vessels and allows for accurate assessment of anastomoses.
The integration of fluorescence technology into the surgical microscope offers the surgeon more safety and certainty in clinically ambiguous situations while carrying out the procedure. Blood flow anomalies can be quickly detected, and the required surgical interventions initiated immediately. The method can more successfully predict the complication-free healing of skin and tissue grafts and provide initial indications of thrombosis.