| Variable | Control group (n)31 | Nicorandil group (n)31 | p value | |
| Age (y) | 38.9 ± 11.18 | 39.8 ± 12.71 | 0.548 | |
| Sex | Male | 13 (42%) | 12 (39%) | 0.844 |
| Female | 18 (58%) | 19 (61%) | ||
| DM | Yes | 4 (13%) | 5 (16%) | 0.735 |
| No | 27 (87%) | 26 (84%) | ||
| Hypertension | Yes | 6 (19%) | 5 (16%) | 0.875 |
| No | 25 (81%) | 26 (84%) | ||
| Smoking | Yes | 5 (16%) | 7 (22.6%) | 0.978 |
| No | 26 (84%) | 24 (77.4%) | ||
| pre-op LVEF% | 63.55 ± 4.23 | 65.4 ± 5.42 | 0.495 | |
| pre-op R-wave amplitude in V5 (mm) | 24 ± 0.66 | 25 ± 0.57 | 0.338 | |
| pre-op CKMB | 6.55 ± 0.57 | 6.66 ± 0.76 | 0.753 | |
| Preop Troponin I | 0.210 ± 0.10 | 0.217 ± 0.08 | 0.873 | |
| Preoperative TNF-α | 12.38 ± 1.19 | 13.04 ± 1.28 | 0.124 | |
| Preoperative IL-6 | 18.55 ± 1.31 | 17.11 ± 1.58 | 0.184 | |
| Type of valve surgery | MVR | 16 (51.6%) | 17 (54.8%) | 0.876 |
| MVR + TR | 6 (19.3%) | 5 (16.1%) | ||
| AVR | 5 (16.1%) | 4 (13%) | ||
| DVR | 4 (13%) | 5 (16.1%) | ||
| CPB time (min) | 76.5 ± 11.13 | 79.14 ± 10.87 | 0.245 | |
| ACC time (min) | 56.75 ± 11.18 | 54.9 ± 13.51 | 0.384 | |
| Operative use of inotropes | yes | 24 (77.5%) | 18 (58%) | 0.315 |
| No | 7 (22.5%) | 13 (42%) | ||