Endpoints
The primary endpoints of the study were 30-day and in-hospital mortality, defined as death due to any cause during postoperative course at 30 days and until discharge, usually to a rehabilitation unit, respectively. Secondary endpoints included post-operative major stroke (defined as clinical and radiological evidence of a new postoperative cerebrovascular event [CVA] with a mRS ≥ 4), spinal cord injury (SCI) temporary or permanent, return to operating room for cardiac causes, renal failure requiring replacement therapy, respiratory insufficiency requiring prolonged ventilation and/or tracheostomy, deep sternal wound infection involving sternal bone and/or mediastinal structures, recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy and in-hospital length of stay.