title: The effect of desmopressin acetate (DDAVP) on postoperative blood loss after cardiac operations in children.
abstract: We investigated the effect of an intraoperative desmopressin acetate infusion on blood loss after cardiac operation in 60 children, by using a prospective, randomized, double-blind trial. Thirty patients received a desmopressin dose of 0.3 microgram/kg intravenously over 15 minutes at the conclusion of cardiac bypass, and 30 received a saline placebo. The two groups were comparable with respect to age, sex, cardiac lesion, presence of cyanosis, and prevalence of Down's syndrome. Results showed no significant difference in postoperative blood loss between the two groups (30.5 +/- 37.9 ml/kg in the placebo group versus 40.0 +/- 33.1 ml/kg in the desmopressin group). Postoperative bleeding time, total urine output, postinfusion hemodynamics, and postoperative coagulation studies did not differ significantly between the two groups. We conclude that postbypass desmopressin infusion does not reduce blood loss in children undergoing cardiac operations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Seear
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Wadsworth
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sheps
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Ashmore
mesh_terms: D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003894:Deamino Arginine Vasopressin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000517:prevention & control; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D014556:Urine
chemical_list: D003894:Deamino Arginine Vasopressin