Table 2.

Intra- and postoperative characteristics of the groups

Characteristics	Placebo (n = 15)	Methylprednisolone (n = 15)	p value
Intraoperative data
Duration of procedure (min)	189 ± 43	204 ± 58	0.43
Duration of CPB (min)	99.4 ± 25	115 ± 31	0.14
Duration of aortic cross-clamping (min)	81.5 ± 25	91.7 ± 29	0.28
Intra-operative dose of phenylephrine (mg)	1.02 ± 1.1	1.36 ± 1.0	0.39
Intra-operative dose of norepinephrine (mg)	0.58 ± 1.3	0.56 ± 0.55	0.95
Plasma glucose levels			0.096
Start of procedure (mmol/l)	6.34 ± 1.5	5.25 ± 0.47
During CPB (mean), (mmol/l)	6.52 ± 0.94	7.25 ± 1.0
After CPB (mmol/l)	7.15 ± 0.97	8.50 ± 1.7
Arrival ICU (mmol/l)	6.20 ± 0.5	7.20 ± 1.6
Day 1 ICU (mmol/l)	6.27 ± 1.2	6.44 ± 1.2
Insulin demand U/hour (intraoperatively + ICU)	1.14 ± 0.74	2.46 ± 1.27	0.009
Postoperative data
Serum creatinine (μmol/l)	83.9 ± 18	94.9 ± 21	0.14
Vasopressor treatment, n	6	9	0.47
Inotropic treatment (n)	0	0	1.0
Reoperation for bleeding (n)	0	0	1.0
ICU readmission (n)	0	1	1.0
Atrial fibrillation/flutter, (n)	5	10	0.14
Neurological complication, (n)	2	1	1.0
Pneumonia, (n)	0	1	1.0
Wound infection, (n)	1	1	1.0
Other infection, (n)	0	2	0.48
Length of stay in ICU (hours)	24.8 ± 14	22.7 ± 12	0.65

Values are mean ± SD. CPB cardiopulmonary bypass, ICU intensive care unit. **p < 0.01