METHODS Study design The study will be conducted as a prospective, randomized, double blinded one. Intra-operatively, anesthesia and surgical management will follow the routines. Intravenous fluid and blood supplements will be administered according to the anesthesiologists' decision. Also, the decision to extubate the patient at the end of surgery will be left to the discretion of the anesthesiologist. Post-operatively, all patients will be transferred to the ICU or to the recovery room for at least 24 hours. Patients may also be transferred first to the recovery room and than to the ICU. These are the routines in our hospital.