The use of ketorolac in the management of postoperative pain

Abstract

Ketorolac tromethamine (Toradol) is a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) available in intramuscular (IM) and oral formulations for the management of acute pain. Intramuscular ketorolac is the only parenteral NSAID available for analgesic use in the US. The clinical profile is reviewed, and clinical studies most applicable to a postoperative patient are discussed in detail. The results of a clinical study performed at Emory University School of Medicine are presented. In this single-dose study, 176 patients received either 10 mg of oral ketorolac, 5 mg or 10 mg of IM morphine, or placebo after orthopedic surgery. The analgesic efficacy of ketorolac was comparable to both doses of morphine and significantly superior to placebo. Ketorolac, when administered intramuscularly or orally, is a safe and effective analgesic agent for the short-term management of acute postoperative pain and can be used as an alternative to opioid therapy.