Randomization and masking
To give the pharmacologist sufficient time to prepare the infusion bags, patients were randomly allocated (1:1) one week before surgery by the coordinating researcher via computer-generated variable block randomization software by Ciwit BV (Castor EDC©). The patient, surgical team, and anesthesia team were blinded for treatment allocation. The coordinating researcher and hospital pharmacologist were unblinded to properly prepare the infusion bags for each individual patient. Both were not involved in the surgical procedure nor in the follow-up.