PERIOPERATIVE KETOROLAC TROMETHAMINE AND POSTOPERATIVE HEMORRHAGE IN CASES OF TONSILLECTOMY AND ADENOIDECTOMY

The charts of 258 patients undergoing tonsillectomy with or without ad enoidectomy between June 1991 and June 1993 were reviewed. One hundred sixty-nine of these patients received ketorolac tromethamine during t he perioperative period as a nonnarcotic alternative for postoperative pain management. The incidence of postoperative hemorrhage among pati ents who received ketorolac tromethamine was 10.1%, compared to 2.2% i n those patients who received narcotic analgesia only. The average tim e to adequate oral intake and discharge was evaluated. Ketorolac appea red to moderately decrease the time to adequate oral intake. The use o f ketorolac did not significantly alter the time to discharge. The inc reased incidence of postoperative hemorrhage in patients receiving ket orolac should be considered before this medication is used in the peri operative period. The risk/benefit ratio of ketorolac use as a postope rative analgesic may be better demonstrated in a prospective study.