A COMPARISON OF INTRAMUSCULAR KETOROLAC WITH INDOMETHACIN SUPPOSITORIES IN THE TREATMENT OF PAIN AFTER ORAL-SURGERY

The analgesic effects of 30 mg of intramuscular ketorolac were compare d with those of rectal indomethacin in 100 mg and 200 mg doses in 66 p atients in a single-blinded trial. Pain scores and the incidence of na usea and vomiting were assessed at 30, 60 and 120 minutes postoperativ ely, at discharge (4 hours) and on the evening of surgery. Area under the curve of pain scores versus time for pain at 30, 60 and 120 minute s postoperatively was significantly lower in the ketorolac group compa red to indomethacin 100 mg and 200 mg groups. There were no significan t differences in the pain scores at discharge or at home on the evenin g of surgery. At 60 minutes postoperatively there was significantly mo re nausea and vomiting in the indomethacin 200 mg group; at all other time-points there was no significant difference between the groups wit h regard to nausea and vomiting. The power of the study to determine t he significance of side-effects between the groups was low.