CONTINUOUS INTRAVENOUS ADMINISTRATION OF KETOROLAC REDUCES PAIN AND MORPHINE CONSUMPTION AFTER TOTAL HIP OR KNEE ARTHROPLASTY

The purpose of this study was to determine the analgesic efficacy, opi oid-sparing effect, and tolerability of ketorolac administered as an i ntravenous (IV) bolus followed by a continuous infusion after total hi p or knee arthroplasty. After general anesthesia, patients received ei ther placebo or ketorolac 30 mg IV as a bolus over 15-30 s followed by a continous IV infusion of ketorolac 5 mg/h for 24 h. All patients re ceived patient-controlled IV morphine with no background infusion. Pat ients were assessed at 2, 4, 6, and 24 postoperatively with respect to analgesia, morphine consumption, side effects, and blood loss. Patien ts receiving ketorolac reported were less sedated and required fewer a ntiemetics. There was no difference in blood loss. Patients receiving morphine (35% for hips and 44% for knees) than those receiving placebo .