Effect of pretreatment with ketorolac on propofol injection pain.
BACKGROUND
: Pain on injection is still a major problem with propofol. We performed this study to compare different doses of intravenous (i.v.) ketorolac with and without venous occlusion and its effect on the incidence and the severity of the pain after propofol injection.


METHODS
We conducted a prospective, randomized and double-blind study of 180 patients (20-60 years of age.) scheduled to undergo elective surgery. Six groups of patients were generated: group A received normal saline (NS) 2 ml i.v.; groups B, C, D received ketorolac 10 mg in 2 ml NS with venous occlusion (VO) and a subsequent propofol injection at either 30, 60 or 120 s; groups E and F received ketorolac 15 mg and 30 mg in 2 ml NS and propofol was injected after 60 s. The pain perception was assessed during injection of propofol in all patients.


RESULTS
: The incidence of propofol-associated injection pain was for A: 46.7%; B: 43.4%; C: 23.3%; D:16.7%; E: 20%, and F: 10%. The incidence of pain following propofol injection was reduced by i.v. ketorolac 10 mg with venous occlusion for 120 s. Furthermore, i.v. ketorolac 15 mg and 30 mg but not 10 mg following propofol injection after 60 s without venous occlusion revealed significant pain reduction when compared to saline group. There was no difference in venous sequelae at 7 days postoperatively between the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggested that pretreatment with i.v. 15 and 30 mg ketorolac reduces pain following propofol injection. Moreover, pretreatment with i.v. ketorolac 10 mg with venous occlusion for 120 s achieves the same pain relief effect.
Anethesiology Research Laboratory, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan.
Y W
YW
Huang
H
H
Buerkle
T H
TH
Lee
C Y
CY
Lu
C R
CR
Lin
S H
SH
Lin
A K
AK
Chou
R
R
Muhammad
L C
LC
Yang
D000328:Adult; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020910:Ketorolac / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011292:Premedication; D015742:Propofol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies
D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D015742:Propofol; D020910:Ketorolac