Interventions
STERILE, EVENTS, CUFF
RIC was performed using a pneumatic tourniquet (Zimmer A.T.S. 3000, Zimmer, Mississauga, ON, Canada) by inflation of a sterile pressure cuff (Vari Fit Contour Tourniquet Cuff, Delfi Medical Innovations, Vancouver, BC, Canada) on the thigh at 250 mmHg for 5 min followed by deflation at 0 mmHg for 5 min and repeated for four cycles. The Sham intervention consisted of application of the thigh cuff with the inflation period set to 0 mmHg. Patients were observed for any local events related to inflation of the cuff.