Methods	Methods of randomisation and allocation concealment were not described
Participants	150 consecutive patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery involving cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were randomly assigned to one of two groups Desmopressin (DDAVP) group: n = 74; age </= 45 years n = 5, age 46-60 years n = 27, age 61-75 years n = 39, age >75 years n = 3. Placebo group: n = 76; age </= 45 years n = 6, age 46-60 years n = 26, age 61-75 years n = 39, age >75 years n = 5. NB: Data for gender was not reported.
Interventions	DDAVP group received an IV infusion of 0.3 ug/kg of DDVAP (for a maximal dose of 20 ug) in 25 ml of physiologic saline over 15 minutes, after CPB was terminated and the effects of heparin reversed with protamine sulphate. Placebo group received physiologic saline alone. NB: Both groups were exposed to cell salvage.
Outcomes	Number of patients transfused allogeneic blood (n) Amount of allogeneic blood transfused (units) Number of patients transfused FFP and Hetastarch (n) Amount of FFP and Hetastarch transfused (ml) Number of patients receiving autotransfusion (n) Amount of blood autotransfused (ml) Blood loss (ml) Hematological data
Notes	Quality assessment score (Schulz criteria): 3/7 Transfusion protocol not specified.
Risk of bias
Item	Authors’ judgement	Description
Adequate sequence generation?	Unclear	Method of randomisation was not described.
Allocation concealment?	Unclear	B - Unclear
Blinding? All outcomes	Yes	Double blind.