We measured blood gases in each sample at the bedside using an iSTAT analyzer (Abbott, IL). The rest of the sample was used for SOD assays. It was collected in an iced-tube containing EDTA, and centrifuged at 4 ºC. Plasma was discarded and the erythrocyte suspension was washed with normal saline and centrifuged again twice. Washed erythrocyte suspensions were stored at -70 ºC until the time of assay.