Sternum wound contraction and distension during negative pressure wound therapy when using a rigid disc to prevent heart and lung rupture.
BACKGROUND: There are increasing reports of deaths and serious complications associated with the use of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), of which right ventricular heart rupture is the most devastating. The use of a rigid barrier has been suggested to offer protection against this lethal complication by preventing the heart from being drawn up against the sharp edges of the sternum. The aim