Ketorolac versus acetaminophen or ibuprofen in controlling postoperative pain in patients with strabismus

Ketorolac is a new, parenteral, nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory agent. The authors compare the effectiveness of a single intravenous dose of ketorolac with a single oral dose of either acetaminophen or ibuprofen in controlling postoperative pain in patients with strabismus.

A prospective, randomized, double-masked study was performed on 60 patients older than 12 years of age who were undergoing strabismus surgery. The patients were randomized into one of three single-dosage treatment groups: group 1 received oral acetaminophen (650 mg); group 2 received oral ibuprofen (600 mg); and group 3 received intravenous ketorolac (60 mg) intraoperatively and placebo capsules postoperatively. Pain and sedation levels were assessed at 2 and 5 hours after surgery by having the patient mark a standard 100-mm visual analog scale.

The ketorolac-treated patients had significantly less pain at both the 2- and 5-hour intervals after surgery compared with either the acetaminophen or ibuprofen groups (P = 0.001). There was no difference in the level of sedation among any of the three treatment groups.

Intravenous ketorolac given at the conclusion of surgery was more effective than either oral acetaminophen or oral ibuprofen given 30 to 45 minutes after strabismus surgery in controlling postoperative pain. Pain relief was achieved earlier by intravenous delivery than by oral agents. Greater pain relief with ketorolac was sustained 5 hours after surgery. This facilitates suture adjustment and earlier discharge. Similar pain control is possible for other ophthalmologic surgery. Because the oral medications used in this study were administered in capsules, the results may have been different if clinically available preparations had been tested.