1. Outcomes of a Less-Invasive Approach for Proximal Aortic Operations
Melissa M. Levack, MD, Muhammad Aftab, MD, Eric E. Roselli, MD, Douglas R. Johnston, MD, Edward G. Soltesz, MD, MPH, A. Marc Gillinov, MD, Gösta B. Pettersson, MD, PhD, Brian Griffin, MD, Richard Grimm, DO, Donald F. Hammer, MD, Adil H. Al Kindi, MD, MS, Turki B. Albacker, MD, MS, Edgardo Sepulveda, MD, Lucy Thuita, MS, Eugene H. Blackstone, MD, Joseph F. Sabik, MD, Lars G. Svensson, MD, PhD 
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery 
Volume 103, Issue 2, Pages (February 2017)
DOI: /j.athoracsur
Copyright © 2017 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Terms and Conditions

2. Fig 1
Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials–style diagram of the study population.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /j.athoracsur )
Copyright © 2017 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Terms and Conditions

3. Fig 2
Quality of propensity-score matching. A, Mirrored histogram of distribution of propensity scores for J-incision and full-sternotomy patients. The darkened areas represent matched patient cohorts. B, Covariate balance plot before and after propensity-score matching on selected variables. (AV = aortic valve; LV = left ventricular; MV = mitral valve; NYHA = New York Heart Association.)
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /j.athoracsur )
Copyright © 2017 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Terms and Conditions

4. Fig 3
J-incision experience across study period. A, Number of J-incision cases. B, Percentage of cases with J incisions.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /j.athoracsur )
Copyright © 2017 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Terms and Conditions

5. Fig 4
Median cost ratio (triangles) of total direct technical costs for propensity-matched patients undergoing J incision vs full sternotomy. The error bars represent 95% confidence intervals.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /j.athoracsur )
Copyright © 2017 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Terms and Conditions

6. Fig 5
Covariate balance plot before and after propensity-score matching on selected variables, including surgeon analysis. (AV = aortic valve; LVEF = left ventricular ejection fraction; MV = mitral valve; NYHA = New York Heart Association.)
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /j.athoracsur )
Copyright © 2017 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Terms and Conditions