New at Rambam: Innovative Imaging Device for More Accurate Breast Reconstruction Surgery

Women undergoing breast reconstruction surgery and individuals suffering from lymphatic system issues face a complex surgical procedure that is not straightforward. Until recently, surgeons essentially had to “probe in the dark” in order to navigate around the lymphatic pathways to assess the condition of the tissues to be reconstructed. An innovative device that uses ICG technology, enabling infrared imaging of blood vessels and lymphatic flow as well as other body tissues, is now being used by Rambam’s Department of Plastic Surgery. Developed by VisionSense, the device is used for pre-surgical planning to noninvasively map the patient’s lymphatic system, or during surgery to examine the tissue blood supply to determine which tissues can be saved during breast reconstruction.

In the past, surgeons developed treatment plans for patients undergoing breast reconstruction surgery without the benefits of this type of imaging. In some cases, this led to a complex recovery and sometimes even necessitated repeated surgeries in certain patients. With the advent of ICG imaging technology, the need for repeated surgical procedures is significantly reduced and the surgeon is able to perform a more accurate reconstruction that closely aligns with the patient’s unique anatomy. For patients with conditions affecting the lymphatic system, surgery was not an option in the past; this amazing technology represents a new range of solutions to their medical problems.

Professor Assaf Zeltzer, the director of Rambam’s Department of Plastic Surgery, concludes, “Thanks to this innovative device, our department remains at the forefront of treatments and services available for our patients.”