Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death and disability in Brazil and worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, 7.3 million deaths worldwide were due to coronary artery disease (CAD) in 2008[1]. According to Datasus, in Brazil in 2009 there were 209,029 hospital admissions due to CAD, totaling 12,619 deaths with a mortality rate of 6.04%[2].
Despite advances in clinical therapy and percutaneous interventions, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is still widely used in the treatment of patients with CAD because it can control persistent ischemia and its progression to acute myocardial infarction, as well as provide symptomatic relief and prevent ischemic complications[3]. However, cardiac surgery is a complex procedure that triggers major organ repercussions, which changes the physiology of patients in many ways[4].