Utility of intravenous indocyanine green injection in discovering stenosed hepaticojejunal anastomoses following pancreaticoduodenectomy during ERCP

Indocyanine green (ICG) is a green-colored dye that is taken up by hepatic cells when intravenously administered, does not undergo metabolic processes such as conjugation, and is excreted unchanged in the bile [1]. We speculated that ICG could be useful in identifying hepaticojejunal anastomoses, as ICG changes the bile color from yellow to green.

A 72-year-old man underwent pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy with modified Child’s method in 2011. He subsequently twice developed cholangitis due to hepaticojejunal anastomotic stenosis and bile duct stones, and underwent double-balloon endoscopy-based endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) at different medical facilities; however, the anastomosis could not be identified and follow-up observations were made. There were no incidents following this; however, in August 2019, the patient had cholangitis and was referred to our department.

Computed tomography demonstrated bile duct stones and a dilated intrahepatic bile duct ([Fig. 1]). We performed single-balloon endoscopy (SBE)-based ERCP but could not identify the hepaticojejunal anastomosis. Therefore, an SBE-based ERCP was performed combined with intravenous ICG (0.5 mg/kg), which was administered when the SBE was inserted into the blind end of the afferent limb ([Video 1]). A color change from yellow to slightly green and an increase in bile retention were observed in the afferent limb approximately 20 minutes after ICG injection ([Fig. 2]). This area of colour change was considered to be the anastomosis ([Fig. 3]). Bile duct stones were visualized once the ERCP catheter was inserted into the bile duct, and contrast imaging was performed. After dilation of the hepaticojejunostomy with a balloon catheter, a biliary stent was placed.

Fig. 1 Computed tomography demonstrated bile duct stones and a dilated intrahepatic bile duct.

Video 1 In a patient with hepaticojejunal anastomotic stenosis, where identification of the anastomosis was difficult, the bile was changed from yellow to green by intravenous injection of indocyanine green, which aided anastomosis identification.

Fig. 2 A color change from yellow to green and an increase in bile retention were observed in the afferent limb approximately 20 minutes after intravenous injection of indocyanine green.

Fig. 3 The area where the bile had pooled in a deep green hue was identified, and the section was considered to be the anastomosis.

This is the first reported case of the use of intravenous ICG injection in conjunction with ERCP in reconstructed intestinal tracts. This method can also be used to identify the afferent limb in Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy cases.

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Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

• Reference

• 1 Stremmel W, Wojdat R, Groteguth R. et al. Liver function tests in a clinical comparison. Z Gastroenterol 1992; 30: 784-790