Comparison of ketorolac and meperidine in patients with postoperative pain--impact on health care utilization.

A double-blind, randomized study was conducted to compare the effects of intramuscular ketorolac tromethamine and meperidine hydrochloride, and subsequent oral pain medication, on health care utilization and postoperative recovery. Following abdominal hysterectomy or cholecystectomy, 210 patients (aged 18 to 70 years; 189 women, 21 men) were randomly assigned to therapy and evaluated for efficacy, safety, nursing care requirements, functional independence, recovery milestones, and quality of life. The patients received 30 mg of ketorolac intramuscularly every 3 to 6 hours as needed, followed by 10 mg of ketorolac every 4 to 6 hours, or 100 mg of meperidine intramuscularly every 3 to 6 hours as needed, followed by acetaminophen/codeine (600 mg/60 mg) orally every 4 to 6 hours. Patients receiving ketorolac had lower nursing utilization scores and achieved a higher level of functioning than patients receiving meperidine during the first 3 postoperative days. Times to first bowel movement, walking without assistance, and first oral fluids were significantly shorter after ketorolac than meperidine. Mean pain intensity difference (from baseline) scores and pain relief scores when adjusted for baseline pain severity were comparable between ketorolac and meperidine. Most adverse events reported by the patients were mild to moderate; 12 patients in each group withdrew from treatment because of adverse events (nausea, rash, or headache). It is concluded that ketorolac is an effective alternative to meperidine in the management of postoperative pain.