Perioperative ketorolac tromethamine and postoperative hemorrhage in cases of tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy.

The charts of 258 patients undergoing tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy between June 1991 and June 1993 were reviewed. One hundred sixty-nine of these patients received ketorolac tromethamine during the perioperative period as a nonnarcotic alternative for postoperative pain management. The incidence of postoperative hemorrhage among patients who received ketorolac tromethamine was 10.1%, compared to 2.2% in those patients who received narcotic analgesia only. The average time to adequate oral intake and discharge was evaluated. Ketorolac appeared to moderately decrease the time to adequate oral intake. The use of ketorolac did not significantly alter the time to discharge. The increased incidence of postoperative hemorrhage in patients receiving ketorolac should be considered before this medication is used in the perioperative period. The risk/benefit ratio of ketorolac use as a postoperative analgesic may be better demonstrated in a prospective study.