Ketorolac as a component of balanced analgesia after thoracotomy

Ketorolac 10 mg or 30 mg i.m., 6 hourly or placebo was given to 75 patients who had undergone thoracotomy, in a randomized double-blind study. All subjects were given intercostal nerve blocks with bupivacaine and had access to i.v. patient-controlled morphine. I.m. ketorolac improved the success rate of the analgesic regimen, with fewer patients withdrawing from the study because of inadequate pain relief.