In the head and neck cancer operation, it is obviously that neck dissection is one of the most important technique. The technique is not only important for the control of the disease but also measuring surgeon’s level in the field of head and neck cancer operation. Though neck dissection is operated in the basis of unified philosophy, each operators have used several techniques and devices. Recently the functional neck dissection to conserve organs has been main current. The purpose of this technique is that sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM), accessory nerve, internal jugular vein (IJV) are conserved as much as possible and functional disturbance after the operation is reduced. We have paid attention to identify anatomical parameter certainly to resect fat tissues on the deep cervical fascia. We use mainly #15 surgical knife in neck dissection. When we resect the field that postoperative bleeding occurs so much, especially inner side of SCM and the region of rich fat, we use a hot knife. Oral cavity cancer causes chiefly deep cervical lymph node metastasis along the IJV. Therefore, it is important to resect connective tissues around the IJV. To operate safely and speedy, we use #15 surgical knife to detach connective tissues around IVJ and Ligaclip MCA (Johnson and Johnson, Japan) to ligate the branch of IJV. These are useful for the achievement of speedy operation and the prevention of IVJ disorder. This time, we present these techniques and devices using in our department and discuss usefulness in neck dissection.

Conflict of interest: None declared.