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Figure 1 | Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery

Figure 1

From: Sternum wound contraction and distension during negative pressure wound therapy when using a rigid disc to prevent heart and lung rupture

Figure 1

Photograph of the experimental set-up used to measure wound distension upon the application of a lateral force during NPWT. Negative pressure was applied with or without a rigid disc placed between the heart and the edges of the sternum. Two 6-0 steel wires were secured around the ribs on each side of the sternum and attached to a custom-made traction device. The traction device was connected to a force transducer and a recorder. Negative pressures of 0, -40, -70, -120 and -170 mmHg were applied. The wound width was measured when traction forces between 0 and 320 N were applied to the lateral edges of the sternotomy.

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