Comparing intraoperative indocyanine green fluorescence imaging with standard clinical assessment for flap perfusion in head and neck reconstruction: A randomised controlled Trial (VISION Trial)

When someone has head and neck cancer removed, surgeons often take tissue from another part of the body, like the arm or leg, to reconstruct the area. This new tissue, called a 'flap,' needs a good blood supply to heal properly and become a successful part of your body. Sometimes, the blood flow to the flap isn't as good as it should be, which can lead to problems and might even require more surgery.

This study, called the VISION Trial, is looking into a way to help surgeons check this blood flow during the operation itself. They will be using a special dye called indocyanine green. This dye is injected into your body and then, when a special camera is used, it lights up, showing the surgeons exactly how well the blood is flowing to the new flap. The study wants to see if using this dye is better than the usual ways surgeons check the blood flow, hoping it can lead to fewer problems with the flap after surgery.

The main thing the doctors are trying to find out is if using this special dye helps reduce the chances of parts of the flap not getting enough blood and needing another operation within a month of your initial surgery. They will also be looking at other things, like whether the whole flap fails, how often a flap needs to be re-explored under anaesthetic, how often a struggling flap can be saved, and any other health problems you might have after the operation.