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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2014 Oct 29.
Published in final edited form as: Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004;(1):CD001884. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001884.pub2
Methods Patient randomisation was by drawing a sealed envelope specifying a prescription for either desmopressin or placebo, which was then prepared by an independent investigator; blinded to the patient, attending anaesthesiologist, and surgeon
Participants 60 patients undergoing elective hepatectomy were randomly assigned to one of two groups

  1. Desmopressin (DDAVP) group: n = 30; M/F = 20/10; mean age (+/−SD) =47.4 (11.3) years.

  2. Placebo group: n = 30; M/F = 17/13; mean age (+/−SD) = 54.9 (11.8) years.
Interventions

  1. DDAVP group received 0.3 ug/kg of intravenous DDAVP in 50 ml normal saline shortly after the induction of anaesthesia, administered over 20 minutes.

  2. Placebo group received 50 ml normal saline intravenously shortly after the induction of anaesthesia, administered over 20 minutes.
Outcomes Number of patients transfused allogeneic blood transfusion (n)
Amount of allogeneic blood transfused (units)
Blood loss (ml)
Notes Quality assessment score (Schulz criteria): 4/7
Transfusion protocol used.
Risk of bias
Item Authors’ judgement Description
Adequate sequence generation? Unclear Method of randomisation was not described.
Allocation concealment? No C - Inadequate
Blinding?
All outcomes		 Yes Double blind.