 The primary endpoint was the amount of chest tube drainage and the amount of blood products used in the first 24 hours following surgery surrogate measurement for blood loss was measured at 4, 8, 12 and 24 hours after surgery. The incidence of packed red blood cells PRBC, fresh frozen plasma FFP, cryoprecipitate and platelets administered during the first 24 hours after surgery was collected. Additionally, patients were monitored for any complications during their stay in the hospital and up to 30 days post-operatively. Complications included renal dysfunction defined as the need for at least 1 hemodialysis or doubling of pre-surgical creatinine levels, stroke and seizures clinically diagnosed, myocardial infarction new Q waves in two electrocardiogram leads, cardiac arrest, respiratory failure, re-operation and death. Monitoring of the patients prior to discharge involved chart review during their stay in the hospital; if a post-operative complication was suspected, the complication was confirmed using Montefiore Medical Centers Carecast Database, which contained independent results such as MRIs, CT scans, or labs. Additionally, computer records of the patients were searched to determine if there were documented complications in the 30-day post-operative time period. 