Desmopressin acetate does not reduce blood loss during total hip replacement in patients receiving dextran.

The blood loss-reducing effect of desmopressin during dextran therapy was studied in a double-blind fashion in 79 elderly but otherwise healthy patients with preoperative normal bleeding time undergoing total hip replacement for primary coxarthrosis. An infusion of desmopressin (0.3 microgram/kg body weight) or placebo was randomly administered immediately after administration of spinal anaesthesia and six hours later.

Correlation of aggregometry responses to changes in light transmission through platelet packs.

The transmission of light through 22 platelet packs was monitored during storage with a specially designed apparatus in order to estimate the quality of the platelet concentrates without risking contamination. The changes in light transmission during a 7 day storage period were compared with other properties of platelets upon day 1 and day 7, namely aggregometry responses (to collagen, ADP, and calcium ionophore A23187), platelet factor 4 release, lactate dehydrogenase extracellular activity and pH. On day 7 additional aggregometry tests were carried out with pairs of activators (collagen + ADP, collagen + A23187, collagen + epinephrine, and collagen + arachidonic acid).