Doctors use a special dye to see the thoracic duct (a tube that carries fluid) during surgery, so they can avoid cutting it and causing leaks.

Scientific Claim

The SP RACE procedure uses indocyanine green visualization to identify and preserve the thoracic duct during dissection, which may help prevent chyle leaks.

Original Statement

“Indocyanine green visualization facilitates the identification of its trajectory, ensuring preservation and avoiding chyle leaks (Video 6).”

From study:Single-port robot-assisted cervical esophagectomy (SP RACE): Combining precision mediastinal lymphadenectomy and complete extrapulmonary dissection

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

appropriately stated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

probability

Can suggest probability/likelihood

Assessment Explanation

The study describes a technical aspect of the procedure. 'Facilitates identification' and 'ensuring preservation' are appropriate for describing a technique, not making claims about outcomes.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Single-port robot-assisted cervical esophagectomy (SP RACE): Combining precision mediastinal lymphadenectomy and complete extrapulmonary dissection

Case Report

Human

2025 Dec

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Single-port robot-assisted cervical esophagectomy (SP RACE): Combining precision mediastinal lymphadenectomy and complete extrapulmonary dissection

Score: 28

DOI: 10.1016/s0022-2275(20)31501-7