Acknowledgements
EDWARDS
We are very grateful to Prof. Peter Radermacher, Prof. Jean Chastre, and Dr. Florence Caniou-Poitrine, who were responsible for the independent safety monitoring of the study. We also thank Dr Fanny Charbonnier-Beaupel and Dr Annick Tibi, for their constant help with pharmacology, technical, and organizational issues. We thank Edwards Lifesciences S.A., USA, for providing thermodilution systems.