title: Use of desmopressin acetate to reduce blood transfusion requirements during cardiac surgery in patients with acetylsalicylic-acid-induced platelet dysfunction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether desmopressin acetate (DDAVP) has the ability to reduce blood loss in patients with a known bleeding tendency.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A university teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Men under the age of 70 years who had taken acetylsalicylic acid within 7 days of scheduled coronary artery bypass surgery. Patients with an abnormal hematologic profile or a history of bleeding or who were receiving heparin or undergoing repeat coronary bypass surgery were excluded. Forty-four patients were randomized with restriction in blocks of 10; 20 received DDAVP and 24 received a placebo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood loss and blood transfusion requirements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients treated with DDAVP lost significantly (p < 0.01) less blood than those receiving a placebo (1543 mL versus 2376 mL respectively). Nineteen patients had a blood loss of more than 2000 mL; 15 of these were in the placebo group. Significantly (p < 0.02) fewer patients receiving DDAVP required blood transfusion (9 versus 18).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DDAVP reduces blood loss during cardiac bypass surgery in patients who have taken acetylsalicylic acid within 7 days before operation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon.
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Sheridan
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Card
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Pinilla
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Harding
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gauthier
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Drotar
mesh_terms: D001241:Aspirin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D001810:Blood Volume; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003894:Deamino Arginine Vasopressin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006487:Hemostasis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D003894:Deamino Arginine Vasopressin; D001241:Aspirin