Methods | Patients were randomised to treatment or placebo by means of a computer program. Study drugs were prepared by the hospital pharmacy and delivered in identical 20 ml syringes | |
Participants | 100 patients undergoing primary coronary artery bypass graft surgery were randomly allocated to one of two groups
NB: Four patients from each group were not included in the final analysis |
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Interventions |
NB: Both groups were exposed to cell salvage (autotransfusion) and post-operative tranexamic acid |
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Outcomes | Number of patients transfused allogeneic blood (n) Number of patients transfused fresh frozen plasma (n) Number of patients transfused platelets (n) Amount of allogeneic blood transfused (units) Blood loss (ml) Amount of blood autotransfused (ml) Re-operation for bleeding (n) Renal failure (n) Pulmonary embolus (n) |
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Notes | Quality assessment score (Schulz criteria): 6/7 Transfusion protocol used. |
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Risk of bias | ||
Item | Authors’ judgement | Description |
Adequate sequence generation? | Yes | Patients were randomised to treatment or placebo by means of a computer program |
Allocation concealment? | Yes | A - Adequate |
Blinding? All outcomes |
Yes | Double blind. |