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Figure 4 | Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery

Figure 4

From: Effects on heart pumping function when using foam and gauze for negative pressure wound therapy of sternotomy wounds

Figure 4

Illustrations of the cross-section of the thoracic cavity showing an open sternotomy, the heart, and caval and lung veins. Suction in a sternotomy wound by NPWT results in the heart being displaced outwards, towards the sternum. There is a greater reduction in the volume of the foam than the gauze, as the latter is a denser material. The heart may therefore be drawn outwards to a greater extent when using foam than when using gauze. NPWT using foam may relieve tension on the caval and lung veins at the back of the thoracic cavity, thereby decreasing the filling pressure in the right and left atria. This may be haemodynamically beneficial, as the load on the heart is reduced.

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