Combination of intramuscular Ketorolac and low dose epidural morphine for the relief of post-caesarean pain.

Epidural morphine produces profound analgesia but also causes many adverse effects in a dose-dependent manner. This double-blind, randomized, prospective study evaluated the analgesic efficacy and safety of low dose (2 mg) epidural morphine in combination with 30 mg intramuscular (IM) Ketorolac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with potent analgesic activity, in patients suffering pain after caesarean surgery. Ninety parturients who received epidural anaesthesia in the postoperative period were divided into 3 equal groups: group A received epidural morphine 2 mg plus IM placebo; group B received epidural morphine 2 mg plus IM Ketorolac 30 mg; and group C received epidural saline placebo plus IM Ketorolac 30 mg. All patients were observed for pain relief, vital signs and adverse effects for 24 hours post drug administration. Results showed that group B had statistically significant superior pain relief to that of the other 2 groups. The incidence of adverse effects was similar between those of group A and B. We concluded that the addition of Ketorolac by IM administration enhanced the analgesic effect of low dose (2 mg) epidural morphine in the relief of post-caesarean pain without potentiating its adverse effects.