Glow-in-the-Dark dye could make gallbladder surgery safer
NCT ID NCT02702843
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether using a dye called indocyanine green along with infrared light helps surgeons see the bile ducts more clearly during gallbladder removal surgery. Over 600 adults having their gallbladder taken out were randomly assigned to either standard white light or the new infrared technique. The goal was to see if the infrared method improves detection of key bile ducts before and after dissection, which could reduce the risk of accidental injury.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- indocyanine green dye
- What this could lead to
- If this technique works better, it could help surgeons avoid injuring bile ducts during gallbladder surgery, making the procedure safer.
- What could go wrong
- This is a completed study comparing two imaging methods, not a new treatment. The dye may not improve outcomes for all patients, and some people are allergic to iodides.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
-
677 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Apr 2016
- Finished
-
Aug 2018
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 years and older
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Patients of both genders 2. Minimum age: 18 years old 3. Spoken and written command of the language spoken in the country's center 4. Ability to understand and follow the study procedures and sign the informed consent Exclusion Criteria: 1. Known allergies to iodides 2. Known history of coagulopathy 3. Known moderate or severe liver disease Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or for whom possibility of pregnancy was not ruled out
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Cholecystitis are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Askelopios Westklinikum Hamburg
Hamburg, Germany
-
Cedar Sinai
Los Angeles, California, 90048, United States
-
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio, 44195, United States
-
Hospital de clinicas jose de San Martin
Buenos Aires, Argentina
-
Klinikum Sudstadt Rostock
Rostock, Germany
-
University of Insubria
Varese, Italy
-
University of Tokyo
Tokyo, Japan
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Robot could remove gallbladder and clear bile duct stones in one operation
- Can a homemade bag make gallbladder surgery safer?
- Can a simple anesthetic choice prevent Post-Surgery vomiting?
- Can a new infrared camera help surgeons spot nerves and bile ducts?
- Race to unconsciousness: which anesthetic works faster?
- New nerve block aims to cut opioid use after gallbladder surgery