Comparing Intraoperative Indocyanine Green Fluorescence Imaging With Standard Clinical Assessment for Flap Perfusion in Head and Neck Reconstruction (VISION Trial)
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In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Indocyanine Green, Standard clinical perfusion assessment.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Head and Neck Cancer (H&N), Free Tissue Flaps, Free Flap, Free Flap Evaluation. Basic parameters: from 18 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Sweden
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Comparing Intraoperative Indocyanine Green Fluorescence Imaging With Standard Clinical Assessment for Flap Perfusion in Head and Neck Reconstruction: A Randomised Controlled Trial (VISION Trial)
Overview
This is a prospective multicentre randomised controlled trial evaluating whether intraoperative indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence angiography improves outcomes in head and neck free flap reconstruction compared with standard clinical assessment of flap perfusion. Adult patients undergoing microvascular free flap reconstruction for oncologic, trauma, or benign head and neck defects will be randomised to either intraoperative ICG angiography or conventional clinical perfusion assessment. The primary outcome is partial flap loss requiring intervention within 30 days after surgery. Secondary outcomes include total flap loss, flap-related re-exploration, flap salvage, and postoperative complications.
Detailed description
The VISION Trial is a prospective, multicentre, open-label, parallel-group randomised controlled trial comparing intraoperative indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence angiography with standard clinical assessment for flap perfusion in head and neck free flap reconstruction.
Free flap reconstruction is an essential component of complex head and neck reconstruction, but flap survival depends on adequate microvascular perfusion. Conventional intraoperative assessment methods, including inspection of flap colour, capillary refill, tissue turgor, bleeding upon needle prick, and Doppler examination, provide indirect assessment of perfusion and may be unreliable in some situations.
ICG fluorescence angiography enables real-time visualisation of arterial inflow and venous outflow using near-infrared fluorescence imaging. Retrospective studies have suggested that ICG angiography may reduce rates of partial flap loss and flap-related re-exploration, but high-quality prospective randomised evidence remains limited.
A total of 244 adult patients undergoing microvascular free flap reconstruction for oncologic, trauma, or benign head and neck defects at participating Swedish centres will be included. Participants will be randomised to either standard clinical assessment alone or standard clinical assessment supplemented with intraoperative ICG fluorescence angiography.
In the intervention group, ICG angiography will be performed intraoperatively using near-infrared fluorescence imaging systems after administration of intravenous indocyanine green (Verdye®). Quantitative perfusion analysis will also be performed using SPY-Q software.
The primary endpoint is partial flap loss requiring intervention within 30 days after surgery. Secondary endpoints include total flap loss, flap-related re-exploration under general anaesthesia, flap salvage, postoperative complications graded according to Clavien-Dindo classification, and the association between intraoperative SPY-Q perfusion values and flap outcomes.
No additional trial-specific postoperative visits are required. Outcomes will be assessed through structured chart review at 30 and 90 days postoperatively.
Interventions
- Drug Indocyanine Green
Indocyanine green (ICG) is administered intravenously during surgery for intraoperative fluorescence angiography assessment of free flap perfusion in head and neck reconstruction. A 25 mg vial of ICG (Verdye®) is reconstituted with sterile water, and approximately 7.5 mg is administered intravenously followed by saline flush. Perfusion is assessed using near-infrared fluorescence imaging systems and SPY-Q quantitative perfusion analysis. - Procedure Standard clinical perfusion assessment
Standard intraoperative clinical assessment of free flap perfusion including evaluation of flap colour, capillary refill, tissue turgor, bleeding upon needle prick, and Doppler examination as clinically indicated during head and neck free flap reconstruction.
Primary outcome measures
- Partial flap loss requiring intervention [Time frame: From index surgery to 30 days postoperatively]
Secondary outcome measures (5)
- Total flap loss [Time frame: From index surgery to 30 days postoperatively]
- Flap-related re-exploration under general anaesthesia [Time frame: From index surgery to 30 days postoperatively]
- Flap salvage [Time frame: From index surgery to 30 days postoperatively]
- Postoperative complications [Time frame: From index surgery to 90 days postoperatively]
- Correlation between intraoperative SPY-Q Relative Perfusion Value (%) and partial flap loss [Time frame: From index surgery to 30 days postoperatively]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Age ≥18 years at the time of inclusion
- Scheduled to undergo microvascular free flap reconstruction as part of oncologic, trauma, or benign surgery in the head and neck area
- Ability to understand study information and provide written informed consent
Exclusion criteria
- Known allergy to indocyanine green or iodine
- Severe hepatic or renal impairment
- Confirmed or suspected pregnancy
- Breastfeeding
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
Sweden · 1 center
- Dept. of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Dept. of Health Sciences, Skåne University — Malmö
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07635420 · 2025-524710-29-00 · 2025-524710-29-00