The short-term and long-term outcomes of indocyanine green tracer-guided laparoscopic radical gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer

Background The safety and efficacy of indocyanine green (ICG) imaging navigational laparoscopic gastrectomy remain controversial. This study is to evaluate the short-term and long-term outcomes of ICG-guided laparoscopic radial gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer. Methods Consecutive patients with definitive diagnosis of gastric cancer that underwent laparoscopic radical gastrectomy were collected retrospectively. Propensity score matching (PSM) at 1:1 ratio was performed to compare the outcomes of two groups. Results A total of 122 qualified patients were divided into ICG group ( n = 34) and non-ICG group ( n = 88). PSM yielded 28 patients with comparable baseline characteristics into each group. The number of retrieved lymph node in ICG group was significantly higher than that in non-ICG group ( P = 0.0196). There was no statistical difference of perioperative, short-term, and long-term complications between the two groups. Conclusion ICG-guided laparoscopic radical gastrectomy is safe and effective, and ICG-navigated lymphadenectomy improves the number of retrieved lymph nodes for patients with gastric cancer.