⁃ undergoing major non-cardiac surgery in general anaesthesia will be included. Major non-cardiac surgery is defined as:

• vascular surgery (with the exception of arteriovenous shunt, vein stripping procedures and carotid endarterectomies)

• intraperitoneal surgery

• intrathoracic surgery

• major orthopaedic surgery (spinal surgery or joint replacement surgery)

• at cardiovascular risk, defined as meeting at least 1 of the following 6 criteria:

‣ preoperative n-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) ≥ 200 ng/l

⁃ history of coronary artery disease

⁃ history of peripheral vascular disease

⁃ history of stroke

⁃ undergoing major vascular surgery, with the exception of arteriovenous shunt, vein stripping procedures and carotid endarterectomies

⁃ fulfilment of any 3 of the 8 following criteria:

• undergoing major surgery (intrathoracic, intraperitoneal or supra-inguinal vascular surgery)

∙ any history of congestive heart failure or history of pulmonary oedema

∙ anamnestic transient ischemic attack (TIA)

∙ diabetes under treatment with either oral antidiabetic agent or insulin

∙ age \> 70 years

∙ history of hypertension

∙ serum creatinine \> 175 mumol/l or calculated creatinine clearance \< 60 ml/min/1.73m2 (cockcroft gault)

∙ history of smoking within 2 years of surgery

∙ planned surgical time ≥ 90 minutes

∙ planned postoperative hospital stay at least 1 night