Efficacy of Intramuscular Ketorolac for Preventing Renal Colic Post Stent Removal: Randomized Controlled Trial

The treatment of stones ureteroscopically is associated with postoperative pain, thought to be due largely to the use of ureteral stents. In some, stent removal precipitates renal colic that can last from minutes to hours. We sought to determine if intramuscular ketorolac could reduce post-stent removal renal colic.

We performed a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial assessing the effects of ketorolac administered at time of stent removal. Patients were randomized to receive an intramuscular ketorolac 30 mg or placebo immediately prior to stent removal. Patients were contacted 1 and 7 days after stent removal to assess pain, need for opioids, emergency department or clinic visits and the need for surgical/medical interventions.

A total of 124 patients (62 patients each in the control and treatment groups) were included in the study. The groups were comparable in demographic/operative characteristics. No difference in mean pain scores or proportion of patients who experienced severe pain at 1 and 7 days post stent removal was detected between groups. However, use of ketorolac resulted in significantly fewer renal colic-related unplanned emergency department/clinic visits in the treatment group (2%) compared with the control group (13%, p=0.032).

Although administration of ketorolac prior to stent removal does not significantly reduce overall subjective pain experienced post stent removal compared to placebo, it does reduce the likelihood of severe renal colic requiring emergency department or office visits. Eligible patients may benefit from routine use of ketorolac injection at the time of stent removal.