ABSTRACT
The internal jugular vein lies beneath the sternocleidomastoid muscle. As dissection proceeds in the wound and the sternocleidomastoid muscle is held back with retractor No. 1, the jugular vein comes into view. Dissection proceeds along the superficial surface of the vein until the common facial vein is identified. In every case, the common facial vein will need to be doubly ligated with 2-0 silk sutures and then divided in order to gain adequate exposure of the underlying carotid artery.
