AVOID; a phase III, randomised controlled trial using indocyanine green for the prevention of anastomotic leakage in colorectal surgery.

Meijer RPJ, Faber RA, Bijlstra OD, Braak JPBM, Meershoek-Klein Kranenbarg E, Putter H, Mieog JSD, Burggraaf K, Vahrmeijer AL, Hilling DE,

Anastomotic leakage (AL) is one of the major complications after colorectal surgery. Compromised tissue perfusion at the anastomosis site increases the risk of AL. Several cohort studies have shown that indocyanine green (ICG) combined with fluorescent near-infrared imaging is a feasible and reproducible technique for real-time intraoperative imaging of tissue perfusion, leading to reduced leakage rates after colorectal resection. Unfortunately, these studies were not randomised. Therefore, we propose a randomised controlled trial to assess the value of ICG-guided surgery in reducing AL after colorectal surgery.