title: Postoperative pain management: morphine versus ketorolac.
abstract: Without proper management, postoperative pain can grow to intolerable levels and interfere with functioning and healing. Historically, morphine had no equal for postoperative pain management. Its side effects, however, are troubling. Recently, researchers have developed many analgesics that do not induce the same side effects as morphine. Ketorolac is one example. Nevertheless, a single drug with an efficacy comparable with morphine remains elusive. In this article, the physiology of pain is reviewed and ketorolac is compared with morphine. Perianesthesia nurses are given pertinent information to enhance their ability to provide the best pain relief available for the patients in their care.
authors.affiliation: Georgetown University School of Nursing & Health Studies, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Anthony
authors.forename: Donna M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Jasinski
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D006801:Humans; D020910:Ketorolac / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009020:Morphine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D009020:Morphine; D020910:Ketorolac