Outcomes
The primary outcome was cardiac troponin T (cTnT) over the 1st 48 postoperative hours. Secondary outcomes were cardiac function (left and right ventricular function by echocardiography), circulatory function [central venous saturations (CVS), arterial saturations, base deficit, blood lactate], blood gas and blood sample test results (pH, partial pressure of oxygen, partial pressure of carbon dioxide, c-reactive protein, haemoglobin, haematocrit, white cell count, alanine aminotransferase), renal function (serum urea and creatinine, urinary albumin and creatinine, retinol-binding protein, 