4.3. Outcome Measures
The primary outcome of this study was to measure 3 different mtDNA genes: D-loop, ND1, and ND6 at several peri-operative timepoints and in several vascular compartments (systemic venous, systemic arterial, and renal venous). D-loop was chosen as it is part of the non-coding region of mtDNA and therefore assumed to be less prone to damage compared to the ND1 and ND6 genes. ND1 and ND6 were chosen as they encode proteins involved in the respiratory chain of the mitochondria but differ in localization with respect to the L- and H-strand (