Desmopressin acetate in cardiac surgery: a double-blind, randomized study.

Use of desmopressin acetate (DDAVP) for patients having cardiac surgery is controversial. We did a double-blind, randomized study of 83 patients having cardiac operations at Georgetown University Hospital. The effect of DDAVP on bleeding as compared to placebo was evaluated by blood loss, replacement volume, and laboratory tests. There were no significant differences in baseline and intraoperative data between the DDAVP (n = 40) and placebo (n = 43) groups. Total drainage for the first 24 postoperative hours was 1,214 mL (+/- 78) for the DDAVP group and 1,386 mL (+/- 116) for the placebo group (not significant). There were no significant differences in replacement therapy. In this study, administration of DDAVP did not decrease bleeding.