Fig. 3
a–d Blood parameters of systemic inflammation, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleucin-6 (IL-6), procalcitonin (PCT) and white blood cells (WBC) were measured at every five visits (V1–5). The expected initial increase of CRP- and IL-6-values after surgery was observed; values subsequently decreased to within the normal range beyond week 1. Box plots of the median (box: median, 25% quartile and 75% quartile; whiskers: minimum, maximum)