Indocyanine Green for Perfusion Assessment of DIEP Flaps

Phase 3

Recruiting

• Conditions: Fat Necrosis

• Registration Number: NCT05507710
• Lead Sponsor: Leiden University Medical Center

Brief Summary

Currently during DIEP flap reconstruction, the perfusion of the flap is assessed by the clinical view of the surgeon. Identification of demarcated ischemic zones of the DIEP flap could be optimized by using fluorescence imaging with indocyanine green (ICG) in order to lower the rate of fat necrosis. This study evaluates whether intraoperative perfusion assessment with ICG fluorescence imaging causes a lower rate of fat necrosis compared to conventional intraoperative clinical evaluation of DIEP flaps.

Detailed Description

Rationale: Autologous breast reconstruction after mastectomy due to cancer or prophylactically due to genetically increased risk is frequently performed. A complication that may occur after a deep inferior epigastric artery (DIEP) reconstruction is the occurrence of fat necrosis in the transplanted flap due to ischemia (reperfusion injury). Identification of deep inferior epigastric artery perforators and identification of demarcated ischemic zones of the DIEP flap can be optimized by using fluorescence imaging with indocyanine green (ICG), as has been demonstrated in previous studies. This could result in less fat necrosis, less partial flap loss, and other complications. A randomized controlled trial would be the best study design to assess the value of ICG in determining the perfusion of DIEP flaps, thereby reducing the occurrence of fat necrosis and other complications.

Objective: To determine whether fluorescence imaging using ICG for the assessment of DIEP flap perfusion during surgery decreases the occurrence of fat necrosis compared to standard intraoperative clinical assessment of DIEP flap perfusion.

Study design: This is a two-armed randomized controlled trial:

* interventional arm: evaluation of flap perfusion based on 1) clinical parameters, and 2) fluorescence imaging using ICG

* conventional arm: evaluation of flap perfusion based on clinical parameters only

Study population: Patients scheduled for elective surgery for autologous breast reconstruction, uni- or bilateral, using DIEP or muscle sparing transverse rectus abdominis muscle (msTRAM) flaps. Female patients 18 years of age and older.

Intervention (if applicable): evaluation of flap perfusion based on 1) clinical parameters, and 2) fluorescence imaging using ICG

Main study parameters/endpoints: Difference in percentage of fat necrosis after autologous breast reconstruction using DIEP flaps between patients in whom fluorescence imaging was used and patients in whom flaps were clinically assessed.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2019-05-01
• Status Verified: 2022-08
• Study First Submitted: 2022-08-17
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-08-17
• Last Update Submitted: 2022-08-17
• Study First Posted: 2022-08-19
• Last Update Posted: 2022-08-19
• Primary Completion: 2025-09-01
• Study Completion: 2025-10-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 280

Inclusion Criteria

1. Female patients 18 years of age and older
2. Who underwent a mastectomy for breast cancer or prophylactic due to genetic predisposition
3. Patients scheduled for elective surgery for autologous breast reconstruction, uni- or bilateral, using DIEP or msTRAM flaps. In case of bilateral breast reconstruction the flaps should be bilateral anastomosed.
4. Written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

1. Allergy to ICG, iodine or shellfish
2. Any medical condition that in the opinion of the investigators could potentially jeopardize the safety of the patient
3. Impaired renal function defined as eGFR< 50 mL/min/1.73m2 (this can be seen in the standard preoperative lab results)

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Clinical relevant fat necrosis	3 months	Clinically relevant fat necrosis is defined as a palpable mass, either painful or not, and with or without aesthetic complaints, and developed within three months after surgery. The following grading system according to Lie et al. is used. Only grade III till IV is classified as clinical relevant fat necrosis.; III: Major compromised reconstructive outcome, flap involvement:15-50%, clinical findings: Major contour defects (multiple), surgical management: Debridement/secondary procedure IV: Subtotal poor reconstructive outcome, flap involvement: \>50%, clinical findings: Skin defects, inadequate volume, volume loss, surgical management: Second local flap/ re-intervention initial flap

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Registration of postoperative complications	3 months	in numbers and percentages
Personal experience/opinion of surgeon performing surgery with fluorescent imaging using ICG.	1 day	After every surgery the NASA TASK Load Index is taken by the surgeon.
Registration of re-interventions	3 months	necessary to treat fat necrosis, in numbers and percentages
Quantify perfusion of flaps	3 months	Based on NIRF recordings and correlate these to the development of fat necrosis.
Duration of surgery in minutes	1 day	Of all surgical procedures included
Percentage extra resected tissue	1 day	of initial flap in grams based on perfusion assessment
Patient satisfaction	3 months	using BREAST-Q questionnaire, this is an validated questionnaire that is used in multiple research for measuring patient satisfaction

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Leiden University Medical Center; 🇳🇱 Leiden, Netherlands

Erasmus Medical Center; 🇳🇱 Rotterdam, Netherlands