ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to determine the efficacy of indocyanine green (ICG) videoangiography for confirmation of vascular anastomosis patency in both extracranial-intracranial and intracranial-intracranial bypasses. METHODS: Intraoperative ICG videoangiography was used as a surgical adjunct for 56 bypasses in 47 patients to assay the patency of intracranial vascular anastomosis. These patients underwent a bypass for cerebral ischemia in 31 instances and as an adjunct to intracranial aneurysm surgery in 25. After completion of the bypass, ICG was administered to assess the patency of the graft. The findings on ICG videoangiography were then compared to intraoperative and/or postoperative imaging. RESULTS: ICG provided an excellent visualization of all cerebral arteries and grafts at the time of surgery. Four grafts were determined to be suboptimal and were revised at the time of surgery. Findings on ICG videoangiography correlated with intraoperative and/or postoperative imaging. CONCLUSION: ICG videoangiography is rapid, effective, and reliable in determining the intraoperative patency of bypass grafts. It provides intraoperative information allowing revision to reduce the incidence of technical errors that may lead to early graft thrombosis.