Effect of short-term ketorolac infusion on recovery following laparoscopicday surgery

This study tested the hypothesis that, by the addition of parenteral ketoro lac to an ol al analgesic regimen for one day following laparoscopic surger y, analgesia would be improved and thus the return of normal function haste ned. Seventy-two female patients were randomly assigned to receive ketorola c 10.5 mg subcutaneously at the end of surgery followed by a subcutaneous i nfusion of 1.75 mg/h for 24 to 36 hours, or art equivalent volume of saline . All patients were provided with codeine tablets (30 mg) for analgesia if required. For the first four postoperative days patients recorded details o f pain, side-effects and discomfort on performing everyday activities. Pati ents who received ketorolac received significantly less fentanyl in the Rec overy Ward and significantly less codeine prior to discharge than the salin e group. They also took significantly fewer codeine tablets over the four-d ay postoperative period. Pain scores in the ketorolac group were not signif icantly lower than in the saline group on the first postoperative day (P=0. 052) and subsequently remained similar Levels of discomfort on performing s ix common activities were similar in the two groups over the four-day posto perative period We conclude that, despite beneficial effects during the per iod of ketorolac administration, there was no continuing benefit after this time other that reduced analgesic use, and no improvement in the patients' ability to perform common activities.