aDepartment of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leuven

bDepartment of Cardiovascular Diseases, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

cDepartment of Clinical-Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia

dAnaesthesia and Intensive Care, Fondazione Policlinico San Matteo IRCCS, Pavia, Italy

eDepartment of Critical Care, Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospitals, Guy's and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK

Correspondence to Christophe Vandenbriele, MD, PhD, Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. Tel: +32 16 42371; fax: +32 16 44235; e-mail: [email protected]