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 Desmopressin (DDAVP) group: n = 46, M/F = 40/6; mean age (+/−SD) = 63.1 (8.6) years. Placebo group: n = 46; M/F = 36/10; mean age (+/−SD) = 64.4 (8.0) years. NB: Four patients from each group were not included in the final analysis
Interventions	DDAVP group received 15 ug/ml of desmopressin in 20 ml saline over 10 minutes at the end of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), immediately after the administration of protamine sulfate. Placebo group received a corresponding volume (20 ml) of 0.9% sodium chloride (saline) solution. NB: Both groups were exposed to cell salvage (autotransfusion) and post-operative tranexamic acid
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)
Notes	Quality assessment score (Schulz criteria): 6/7 Transfusion protocol used.
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.