Methods	Methods of randomisation and allocation concealment were not described
Participants	33 patients scheduled to undergo elective primary coronary artery bypass grafting were randomly allocated to one of two groups Desmopressin (DDAVP) group: n = 15; M/F = 14/1; mean age (+/−SD) = 57 (9) years. Placebo group: n = 15; M/F = 14/1; mean age (+/−SD) = 59 (5) years. NB: Three patients were excluded from the final analysis (one from the placebo group and two from the DDAVP group)
Interventions	DDAVP group received 0.3 ug/kg of DDAVP diluted in 100 ml of saline, administered over 15 minutes after sternal closure. Placebo group received 100 ml of saline solution administered over 15 minutes after sternal closure. NB: Both groups were exposed to acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH). After induction of anaesthesia, one unit of whole blood was withdrawn from the patient and replaced with 1000 ml of Ringer’s solution. This autologous blood unit was given back to the patient after the available residual oxygenator perfusate had been returned
Outcomes	Amount of allogeneic blood transfused (units) Blood loss (ml) Mortality (n) Haemoglobin loss Cardiac failure (n) Crystalloid infusions (ml)
Notes	Quality assessment score (Schulz criteria): 3/7 Transfusion protocol used.
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.