Use of ketorolac in the prevention of suxamethonium myalgia

We have evaluated the effect of ketorolac in the prevention of suxamethonium myalgia. Sixty ASA I patients who presented for extraction of wisdom teeth as day cases were allocated randomly to one of three equal groups. Patients received either 0.9% saline (placebo), atracurium 0.05 mg kg-1 i.v. or ketorolac 10 mg i.v., 3 min before induction of anaesthesia. Follow-up postal questionnaires (97% response rate) at 48 h showed no reduction in the incidence of myalgia after ketorolac pretreatment compared with saline. The use of atracurium reduced the incidence of myalgia by 60% (P < 0.001) and the severity of fasciculations (P < 0.001). There was no difference in the severity of fasciculations between the saline and ketorolac groups. Intubating conditions were comparable in the three groups.