A comparison of the efficacy of ketorolac and indomethacin for postoperative analgesia following laparoscopic surgery in day patients.

The analgesia provided in the postoperative period by three regimens commonly used in our private anaesthetic practice were compared in a double-blind study of one hundred and thirty-seven women presenting for day-case laparoscopic procedures. After random allocation into three groups, all patients were similarly anaesthetized and then received both a rectal suppository and an IM injection. Group P received two placebos, Group I had an indomethacin suppository 100 mg and Group K an IM injection of ketorolac 30 mg. The trial showed a statistically significant reduction in pain at 180 minutes postoperatively in the group receiving ketorolac (visual analog pain score of 13.8 v 21.7). The parenterally administered ketorolac may be a useful analgesic supplement in these patients. However the trial was aborted following the appearance in the literature of case reports of postoperative renal failure. Further investigation of the efficacy and side-effect profile of reduced doses may be warranted.