Intravenous ibuprofen for postoperative pain

SUMMARY A multimodal analgesic approach involving intravenous NSAIDs in the perioperative setting has been common practice for many years outside of the USA. As an adjunct to the central analgesic effects of opioids, intravenous NSAIDs may be important for perioperative pain management due to their analgesic and peripheral anti-inflammatory effects. Together, these agents may attenuate the pain resulting from the surgical procedure better than either agent used singly. Prior to 2009, ketorolac was the only intravenous NSAID approved in the USA for the treatment of pain. However, in June 2009, intravenous ibuprofen (Caldolor(®)) was approved by the US FDA for the treatment of mild-to-moderate pain as a single agent and moderate-to-severe pain as an adjunct to opioids. A growing body of research has demonstrated the efficacy and safety of intravenous ibuprofen in the perioperative setting and is reviewed herein.