Methods	Patients were randomly assigned to study drug or placebo by a system of sealed envelopes. The placebo solution was identical in appearance to the study drug solution. The method used to generate allocation sequences was not described
Participants	40 patients undergoing elective primary coronary artery bypass graft surgery were randomly assigned to one of two groups Desmopressin (DDAVP) group: n = 20; M/F = 17/3; mean age (+/−SD) = 59.9 (10.7) years. Placebo group: n = 20; M/F = 17/3; mean age (+/−SD) = 59.6 (11.2) years.
Interventions	DDAVP group received 0.3 ug/kg of DDAVP IV prepared in 50 ml of saline and administered over 15 minutes. Placebo group received placebo solution (not specified) in equivalent volumes at the same time periods as the study drug. NB: Both groups were exposed to cell salvage.
Outcomes	Number of patients transfused allogeneic blood (n) Amount of allogeneic blood transfused (units)xbr Fresh frozen plasma (units) Platelets (units) Blood loss (ml) Re-operation for bleeding (n) Hypotension (n)
Notes	Quality assessment score (Schulz criteria): 5/7 Transfusion protocol not specified.
Risk of bias
Item	Authors’ judgement	Description
Adequate sequence generation?	Unclear	Method of randomisation was not described.
Allocation concealment?	No	C - Inadequate. Allocation concealment was by means of sealed envelopes
Blinding? All outcomes	Yes	Double blind.