The VNS generator and
lead are implanted in the chest and neck in a procedure which
involves:
A device, approximately the size
of a small tape measure, is implanted under the skin in the upper
left chest area. This device, known as the generator, functions
as the "pacemaker". This requires a small chest incision
for the generator.
A connecting wire, also implanted
under the skin, connects this "pacemaker" with the
vagus nerve, by delicate leads which are carefully attached to
the vagus nerve on the left side of the neck. This requires a
small incision on the side of the neck for the lead.
The operation to implant a vagal
nerve stimulator takes approximately 45 minutes to 2 hours of
surgery time. The entire procedure entails a 6 hour to overnight
hospital stay.
Other than small
scars and a slight bulge in the chest, the device and evidence
of the surgery are invisible.
Over the next several days, the
vagal nerve stimulator can be programmed to automatically deliver
stimulation on a regular, frequent basis, usually every few minutes,
around the clock. Further reprogramming is usually done monthly.
All vagus nerve stimulators are
produced by Cyberonics, Inc.
Unlike other types of epilepsy
surgery, surgical implantation of the NCP System does not involve
the brain.
VNS: Operation
connecting
wire
tunneling tool
