Desmopressin for Prevention of Bleeding for Thrombocytopenic, Critically Ill Patients Undergoing Invasive Procedures: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Feasibility Trial

Thrombocytopenic patients have an increased risk of bleeding when undergoing invasive procedures. In a multicentre, phase II, blinded, randomised, controlled feasibility trial, critically ill patients with platelet count 100 x 109/L or less were randomised 1:1 to intravenous desmopressin (0.3 mu g/kg) or placebo before an invasive procedure. Forty-three participants (18.8% of those eligible) were recruited, with 41 eligible for analysis. Post-procedure bleeding occurred in one of 22 (4.5%) in the placebo arm and zero of 19 in the desmopressin arm. Despite liberal inclusion criteria, there were significant feasibility challenges recruiting patients in the critical care setting prior to invasive procedures.