Vagus Nerve Anatomical Assessment with Ultrasonography for Vagus Nerve Stimulation Implantation as Secondary Cervical Surgery: Two Case Reports

Sadahiro H1*, Imoto H1,2, Sugimoto K1, Fujii N1, Nomura S1,2 and Ishihara H1

1Department of Neurosurgery and Clinical Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Japan
2Epilepsy Center, Yamaguchi University Hospital, Yamaguchi, Japan

^*Correspondance to: Hirokazu Sadahiro 

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Abstract:

Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) is a surgical treatment of epilepsy. When VNS is performed regarding a second surgery, tight adhesion would be disturbing surgical procedure. Ultrasound could preoperatively identify the anatomical assessment of vagus nerve. In this case report, we evaluated preoperative and intraoperative vagus nerve with ultrasound for VNS implantation regarding a second surgery. Two patients with post left cervical surgery underwent VNS. One case was after cervical lymph node dissection due to metastasis of thyroid cancer. In the second case, the patient developed infection of VNS system, so it was removed, and a new VNS was implanted. Although the vagus nerve tightly adhered to surrounding tissue, intraoperative ultrasound could clearly show the vagus nerve location. Because tight adhesion happens after first surgery, anatomical assessment of vagus nerve with ultrasound is essential for VNS surgeons

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Cite the Article:

Sadahiro H, Imoto H, Sugimoto K, Fujii N, Nomura S, Ishihara H. Vagus Nerve Anatomical Assessment with Ultrasonography for Vagus Nerve Stimulation Implantation as Secondary Cervical Surgery: Two Case Reports. Ann Clin Case Rep. 2023; 8: 2487..