Indocyanine green fluorescence-guided perfusion vs. standard assessment to prevent clinical anastomotic leak after colorectal resection: a GRADE-assessed systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials with site-specific subgroup analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Anastomotic leak remains a devastating complication after colorectal resection, with an incidence rate of 3-19%, and has profound impacts on morbidity, mortality, and quality of life. Indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence angiography enables real-time visualization of anastomotic perfusion; however, randomized evidence regarding its efficacy in preventing clinical leaks has yielded conflicting results across recent multicenter trials.

Methods

We systematically searched the MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, Web of Science, and Scopus through October 2025 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing ICG fluorescence-guided perfusion assessment with standard white-light assessment during colorectal anastomosis. The primary outcome was clinical anastomotic leakage (grade

SUBMITTER: Mirza W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12717723 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature