Methods	Methods of randomisation and allocation concealment were not described
Participants	109 of 122 eligible patients scheduled for coronary bypass graft surgery or mixed cardiac surgery were randomised to one of four different groups Aprotinin group: n = 28; M/F = 16/12; mean age (+/−SD) = 58 (10.0) years. Desmopressin group: n = 25; M/F = 14/11; mean age (+/−SD) = 56.6 (8.8) years. Desmopressin group: n = 28; M/F = 20/8; mean age (+/−SD) = 57.3 (7.6) years. Control group: n = 28; M/F = 22/6; mean age (+/−SD) = 56.3 (10.1) years. NB: Of the total number of patients enrolled in the study, 13 were excluded from the subsequent analysis because they did not complete the study (four in the placebo group and nine in the treatment group)
Interventions	Aprotinin group received a bolus infusion of 2 million kallikrein inactivator units (KIU) of aprotinin within 30 minutes after the induction of anaesthesia followed by a continuous infusion of 500,000 KIU/hr of aprotinin until the patient left the operating room and an additional bolus of aprotinin was added to the pump prime by replacement of crystalloid. Desmopressin group received 0.3 ug/kg of desmopressin (DDAVP) in 50 ml saline solution over a period of 20 minutes, given intravenously on completion of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and immediately after the administration of protamine. Desmopressin group received two doses of DDAVP (2x0.3 ug/kg) and an additional dose 6 hours after surgery. Control group did not receive aprotinin or DDAVP.
Outcomes	Number of patients transfused allogeneic blood (n) Amount of allogenic blood transfused (units) Blood loss (ml) Mortality (n) Thrombosis (n)
Notes	Quality assessment score (Schulz criteria): 1/7 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	Single blind.