1. Clinical Outcome of Patients With Deep Sternal Wound Infection Managed by Vacuum- Assisted Closure Compared to Conventional Therapy With Open Packing: A Retrospective Analysis 
Uwe Fuchs, MD, Armin Zittermann, PhD, Benjamin Stuettgen, MD, Arndt Groening, MD, Kazutomo Minami, MD, Reiner Koerfer, MD 
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery 
Volume 79, Issue 2, Pages (February 2005)
DOI: /j.athoracsur
Copyright © 2005 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Terms and Conditions

2. Fig 1
Median changes in C-reactive protein levels (A) and in leukocyte blood counts (B) between the time interval of diagnosis of sternal infection (t0) and t1 (3 to 7 days after t0), t0 and t2 (8 to 12 days after t0), t0 and t3 (13 to 17 days after t0), and t0 and td (discharge) are presented in a box plot. The boxes express the upper and lower quartiles, and the central lines show the median. A significant time effect was observed in CRP levels and in leukocyte blood counts in both study groups (Friedman test; p values < 0.001). A significant difference was also observed in Δ CRP levels between the CON (□) and the VAC (■) groups at t2; **p < (Mann-Whitney test). (CON = conventionally treated group; CRP = C-reactive protein; VAC = group treated with the vacuum-assisted closure system.)
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /j.athoracsur )
Copyright © 2005 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Terms and Conditions

3. Fig 2
Cumulative survival of patients with sternal incision managed with the vacuum-assisted closure system (VAC group) and of patients with conventional surgical therapy (CON group).
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /j.athoracsur )
Copyright © 2005 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Terms and Conditions