Desmopressin as a hemostatic agent to provide a dry intraoperative field in rhinoplasty.
BACKGROUND
Intraoperative bleeding during rhinoplasty makes it difficult to sculpt cartilages. Residual blood from a wet field can lead to induration, fibrosis, and definition loss. Recent studies with desmopressin (1-deamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin) to reduce blood loss in a variety of operations and minimize postoperative bleeding problems suggest using that drug routinely for elective rhinoplasty and not just for patients with coagulation issues.


METHODS
Seventy-three consecutive rhinoplasty patients received desmopressin for the purpose of obtaining a dry operative field. The initial dose was 0.1 μg/kg. If the field was not as dry as desired, a second dose was given; if necessary, a third dose to a maximum of 0.3 μg/kg was given. All cases exhibited a satisfactorily dry field. There were no adverse effects. A retrospective comparison was made to 300 consecutive cases not receiving desmopressin.


RESULTS
Thirty of the 73 patients received a starting dose of 0.1 μg/kg and nothing more. Fourteen received a second dose of 0.1 μg/kg because the field was not as dry as desired and 29 received a third dose of 0.1 μg/kg because the field was not as dry as desired. All 73 patients exhibited a satisfactorily dry field, in contrast to 9 percent in the group not receiving desmopressin.


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms the hemostatic effectiveness of desmopressin at lower than normally used doses in rhinoplasty. It also confirms its safety. It suggests its use in other procedures. A larger, carefully controlled study is indicated.


METHODS
Therapeutic, III.
San Francisco, Calif. and Stanford, Calif. From the University of California, San Francisco; and Stanford University.
Ronald P
RP
Gruber
Kamakshi R
KR
Zeidler
R Laurence
RL
Berkowitz
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003894:Deamino Arginine Vasopressin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006489:Hemostatic Techniques; D006490:Hemostatics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012225:Rhinoplasty; D055815:Young Adult
D006490:Hemostatics; D003894:Deamino Arginine Vasopressin