The Surgery

Here is how the surgery works...

Specfically, this is the procedure for cutting open the neck:
The electrodes are implanted in the left neck by either a "carotid" incision or a transverse "collar" incision. A 3-4 cm incision should be centered at mid-neck level (cricothyroid interval) and on the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. The skin is incised with a #10 scalpel and the skin edges undermined with Metzenbaum scissors. The platysma muscle is divided in the direction of its fibers and the deep cervical fascia is opened to identify the sternocleidomastoid muscle. This muscle is mobilized and retracted laterally to expose the neurovascular bundle. This bundle is then incised to expose the carotid artery and jugular vein. The vein is retracted laterally and the main trunk of the vagus nerve is usually found deep between the artery and vein. Approximately 3-4cm of nerve should be mobilized from surrounding adventitia. Stay sutures in the carotid sheath can be utilized to deliver the nerve towards the surgeon. Mobilization and handling of the nerve should be done with fine forceps. Care must be taken to avoid injuring the main trunk or one of the branches.

I'll be doing this in about 48 hours. Wish me luck!