Possible intraoperative anesthetic-sparing effect of parenteral ketorolac.
OBJECTIVE
Because the analgesic effects of ketorolac are equivalent to those of narcotic analgesics, we investigated the possibility that this non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug might also exhibit anesthetic-sparing properties similar to those described for narcotic agents.


METHODS
A nonrandomized, double-blind convenience sample. The treatment group received a preoperative dose of ketorolac 60 mg im 45 minutes prior to the induction of anesthesia. All other preoperative medications were identical.


METHODS
Brooke Army Medical Center, a primary care setting.


METHODS
Six women requiring vaginal hysterectomies from American Society of Anesthesiologists class I/II, all of similar age, weight, and body surface area.


METHODS
End-tidal concentrations of the anesthetic gas were measured at five-minute intervals using a gas analyzer. A mean percent end-tidal concentration versus time curve was generated for each group.


RESULTS
The area under the concentration curves for the anesthetic gas in the ketorolac and control group were 15.9 +/- 5.1 and 52.3 +/- 13.4, respectively (p = 0.006).


CONCLUSIONS
Ketorolac exhibits an anesthetic-sparing quality similar to that observed with narcotic analgesics.
Moss
J T
JT
Special Subjects Section, Academy of Health Sciences, US Army, Fort Sam Houston 78234.
Baysinger
C L
CL
Boswell
G W
GW
Sayson
S
S
D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D020910:Ketorolac; D008875:Middle Aged; D009294:Narcotics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011292:Premedication; D013781:Texas; D014046:Tolmetin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
D000700:Analgesics; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D009294:Narcotics; D014046:Tolmetin; D020910:Ketorolac