IV Ketorolac May Cut Need for Opioids Following Orbital Surgery

This article is part of MPR’s coverage of the American Academy of Ophthalmology 2019 Meeting, taking place in San Francisco, CA. Our staff will report on medical research related to eye disorders, conducted by experts in the field. Check back regularly for more news from AAO 2019.

SAN FRANCISCO – Administration of intravenous ketorolac was associated with a reduction in postoperative pain in patients undergoing orbital surgery, according to findings from a study presented at the 2019 American Academy of Ophthalmology Meeting in San Francisco, CA.

Study patients received intravenous ketorolac (n=50) or acted as controls (n=50) (both the patients and surgeon were blinded). The primary outcome measures were postoperative pain scores (measured on a scale of 0 to 10), bleeding complications, and need for postoperative antiemetic and opioid analgesics; these outcomes were measured immediately after surgery and on postoperative Day 1. 

Results showed that pain scores immediately after surgery and on postoperative Day 1 were 3.08 and 1.04 for the intravenous ketorolac group vs 5.44 and 2.66 for the control group, respectively (both: P=.001). Moreover, a smaller percentage of patients in the intravenous ketorolac group required antiemetics (12% vs 22%) or opioids (8% vs 24%; P=.03), when compared with controls. In addition, neither group experienced bleeding complications.

Based on their findings, the researchers concluded that “[intravenous ketorolac] reduces postoperative pain in orbital surgery and the requirement for opioid analgesics, without increasing the risk of bleeding complications.”

Reference

Wladis, EJ, et al. Intravenous Ketorolac in Orbital Surgery. Poster number: PO323. The American Academy of Ophthalmology Meeting; October 12-15 2019.