Following cross-clamping of the aorta, the heart was arrested using 10–15 cm3/kg cold blood cardioplegia through the aortic root and topical ice slush was continued every 20 minutes for myocardial protection. Heparin was neutralised with protamine hydrochloride (Protamin 1000; Roche, Istanbul, Turkey). The circuit was primed with 2 000 ml Ringer’s lactate.