Interventions
The treatment group received: intravenous administration of 2 g of PCr after anesthesia induction; 2.5 g of PCr in every 1 L of cardioplegic solution (concentration = 10 mmol/L); intravenous administration of 2 g of PCr immediately after heart recovery following aorta declamping; 4 g of PCr at intensive care unit admission. To ensure biochemical and clinical effects of the drug, PCr was administered perioperatively at a dose of 13 g (this dose was higher than previously reported in clinical trials) [The randomization was accomplished using an online randomization service (