Blood samples were drawn preoperatively (baseline) then at 8 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours postoperatively and before hospital discharge. Blood samples were spun and sera were separated, stored according to the storage conditions specified by the manufacturer, and used to measure the TnI, CK-MB and CRP at the time of analysis. Cardiac TnI was assayed by the Dimension® TNI method, a homogenous sandwich chemiluminescent assay based on LOCI® technology, using SIEMENS Dimension® EXL™, LOCI® Module system. Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc. Newark, USA. CK-MB isoenzyme was measured by the Mass MMB method, a one-step enzyme immunoassay based on the sandwich principle, using SIEMENS Dimension® Heterogeneous Immunoassay Module system. Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc. Newark, USA. CRP was measured by the C-Reactive Protein Extended Range (RCRP) method, a method based on a particle enhanced turbidimetric immunoassay (PETIA) technique, using SIEMENS Dimension® system. Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc. Newark, USA.