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Experience with a Low Single Cervical Incision for Implantation of a Vagus Nerve Stimulator: Technique and Advantages
Ramesh Kumar1, Ken R Winston2, Zach Folzenlogen1
1Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado, USA.
Objective:
This report describes the technique for implanting a vagus nerve stimulator via a single low anterior cervical incision and discusses the advantages of this technique over that of the more commonly used 2-incision technique.
Methods:
The authors performed a retrospective review of all patients who underwent implantation of a vagus nerve stimulator by the senior author over a 10-year period.
Results:
One hundred thirty-one patients underwent implantation of vagus nerve stimulators via the single-incision technique. There were no instances of vagus nerve injury, postoperative hematoma, or wound infection, and cosmesis was excellent.
Conclusion:
The single-incision technique described here for implantation of vagus nerve stimulators is technically straightforward and safe, and has significant advantages over the 2-incision technique.
