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New fluorescence technology is shining a light on how to achieve better patient outcomes in complex surgeries at The Bays Hospital.
The not-for-profit private facility is the first on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula to use Indocyanine Green (ICG) to help a surgeon perform a procedure.
The fluorophore drug is not visible to the naked eye, but appears green when viewed through a fluorescent laser light built into the hospital's new Stryker camera system.
"This technology has transformed how we approach complex surgeries," said Dr Ali Andrabi, who used it in a recent laparoscopic gall bladder removal surgery – known as a cholecystectomy.
ICG enhanced Dr Andrabi's ability to differentiate critical anatomical structures in real-time during the operation, providing a clearer view of bile ducts and surrounding tissues.
"The patient's unique anatomy made it difficult to place the cholangiography catheter, but the use of ICG allowed me to visualise the critical structures in real-time, making the procedure safer and more precise," he said.
"The new technology enabled me to better assess the patient's biliary anatomy and identify potential anomalies, which can often be challenging to detect using traditional HD imaging."
Dr Ali Andrabi, a general surgeon at The Bays Hospital
ICG fluorescence technology can be used in multiple medical specialties, including gynaecology, colorectal, thoracic, hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB), oncology, breast, and endocrine surgery.
Its use in Dr Andrabi's surgery was "a major advancement" for treatment options in the region, The Bays Hospital said in a statement.
"The uptake of this technology is rapidly expanding across hospitals in Melbourne and Australia, and this successful procedure is a proud achievement for both The Bays and the local healthcare community," it added.
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