SPY in Colorectal and GI Reconstructive Surgery

SPY Imaging Provides Critical Relevant Information 

SPY imaging may provide surgeons performing gastrointestinal and colorectal surgeries and reconstructions with clinically relevant visual images of blood flow in vessels, tissue perfusion and the lymphatics* in real-time during the course of surgery. Surgeons performing colorectal surgeries, where the adequacy of blood flow to tissue, the integrity of the anastomosis and the ability to visualize lymphatics are key factors in achieving optimal surgical outcomes, are now utilizing SPY to make better informed decisions in the operating room.

Commenting on the use of SPY in gastric pull up surgery, Dr. Thomas R. DeMeester, Chairman of the Department of Surgery at the University of Southern California said, "SPY imaging provides surgeons performing reconstruction immediately following esophagogastrotomy with a visual means of evaluating the blood flow to the gastric pull up. Prior to performing the immediate reconstruction proceudre, SPY enables surgeons to determine whether or not the blood flow is adequate or needs tailoring and that immediate reconstruction is possible or should be delayed.  The ability to make these critical decisions in the operating room can definitely contribute to overall procedural success and patient outcomes.”

Surgeons at USC Medical Center were the first to describe the use of SPY in gastrointestinal reconstruction and colorectal surgery.  Having now utilized SPY in a large number of patients and in a variety of procedures, they report  that SPY images have assisted them in determining optimal placement of anastomses and in avoiding or resecting poorly perfused tissue. Poor tissue perfusion can lead to anastomotic leakage and tissue necrosis, which can result in serious post-operative complications and the need to reoperate. Dr. Robert Beart, a colorectal surgeon at USC, reports that reducing leakage rates by even 10% in low anterior resections alone would be a major clinical accomplishment with significant benefits to patients. SPY and its complimentary SPY-Q Analysis Toolkit may also assist surgeons to detrmine which patients should have a diversion.

Today, surgeons report that SPY may have the potential to increase quality and reduce complications in procedures such as:

  • Low anterior resection
  • Colectomy
  • Colostomy or ileostomy
  • Low anterior resection
  • Gastric bypass
  • Esophogeal and other reconstructive surgeries