Patient baseline characteristics and data on surgery in the two groups.

Data are presented as median (range) (not normally distributed data), as mean ± SD (normally distributed data) or as absolute numbers (with the percentage (%) of the whole). * p<0.05 [95% CI] = 95% Confidence intervall on the mean CABG = coronary artery bypass grafting; CPB = cardiopulmonary bypass, MI = myocardial infarction, PRBC = packed red blood cells.