Figure 1.

Study design and patient enrolment. Left column shows RIPC-group, right column shows control group. Exclusion criteria were participation in other trials, body mass index (BMI) > 40 kg/m², second intervention because of bioprothesis degeneration (“valve-in-valve”), active malignancy with life-expectancy less than 1 year, SIRS or sepsis, cardiogenic shock, dependency on inotropes, peripheral artery disease, thrombosis and chronic renal failure with need for dialysis and dialysis fistula at forearm. BMI = body mass index; SAVR = surgical aortic valve replacement; RIPC = remote ischemic preconditioning.