PURPOSE To determine the effects of desmopressin on coagulation and blood loss in patients undergoing elective partial hepatectomy. METHODS A randomized, controlled and double-blind study on 59 patients who received either 0.3 micro g x kg(-1) of desmopressin or an equal volume of normal saline (control) infused intravenously over 20 min after induction of general anesthesia. RESULTS There ...