Despite their sometimes fatal complications such as respiratory depression when used for postoperative pain control, intravenous and epidural narcotics remain the mainstay of treatment regimens. because of the problems, anesthesiolgista are
seeking
alternatives.
We compared the analgesic effect and complications of continuous intravenous morphine with ketorolac. Ketorolac is a non-steroidal agent with potent analgesics and moderate anti-inflammatory activity.
Forty ASA physical status I or II patients were given morphien (20 patients) or ketorolac (20 patients): In the morphine group, an initial bolus dose of 2 mg i. v. was given followed by continuous infusion at a rate of 1 mg/hr for 48 hours. The
ketorolac group was given initial bolus of 30 mg i. v. This was followed by continuous infusion at a rate of 3.75 mg/hr for 48 hours using a Baxter Daymate Infuser.
We checked systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure, heart rate, visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Prince Henry Score (PHS). This was done before the initial bolus, at 5, 15, 30 and 60 min, 15 2, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours after
administration.
We
observed the side effect -nausea and vomiting, pruritus, hypotension, somnolence, urinary retention and respiratory depression.
From our study we believe ketorolac in selected patients, is as effective as morphine in alleviating postoperative pain without side effects of morphine.
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