Clinical use of Indocyanine green fluorescence method for sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer in France in 2021.

INTRODUCTION: Indocyanine green (ICG) for axillary sentinel lymph node (SLN) detection in early breast cancer is at least equivalent to radioisotopic and/or colorimetric techniques. This procedure has not yet been recommended by learned societies in France. Following the recent drug approval of Infracyanin ® in this indication, we wished to study the use of ICG in France. METHODS: We conducted a web-based survey among members of multiple French breast cancer societies throughout November 2021. The survey assessed the profile of the respondent, the use or not of ICG for the detection of SLN in breast cancer, the technique used and the opinion of non-users and their expectations on the subject. RESULTS: Seventy-five surgeons participated. More than a third (37 %) have been using ICG for the detection of SLN in breast cancer for 2 to 3 years. Technique was highly variable. According to 82.1 % of the respondents, less than 20 procedures are necessary to master the use of ICG. The main advantage reported for this method is the reduction of organizational constraints. The obstacles to the use of the ICG are the near infra-red camera equipment, but also the lack of validation by the French guidelines. Among non-users, 83 % would like to develop this technique in their center and 72.3 % are interested in training on this subject. CONCLUSION: This work highlights the need for French learned societies to take a stand on this issue but also the need to carry out studies on the technical aspects in order to standardise practices.

Successful conservative management of a spontaneous hemorrhagic uterine rupture at 18 weeks of gestation.

Prelabor uterine rupture is a very rare complication of pregnancy that in most cases occurs when there is a history of uterine surgery. Maternal and neonatal morbidity is significant. Most often, the pregnancy must be terminated to rescue both the mother and the newborn, if possible. We report the case of a patient who had a pre-labor uterine rupture at 18 weeks of gestation (WG) complicated by massive hemoperitoneum. Emergency surgery with conservative management allowed the pregnancy to continue until 32+3 WG. In very rare situations of uterine rupture at a very early term, conservative management appears to be an acceptable solution to allow the pregnancy to continue until a sufficient gestational age to limit complications related to prematurity.