title: Postoperative analgesia with ketorolac is associated with decreased mortality after isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgery in patients already receiving aspirin: a propensity-matched study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to determine the effect of ketorolac on mortality after cardiac surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective multivariable analysis with propensity matching and propensity scoring.
  
  
  METHODS
  A tertiary care university-affiliated medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven hundred eighty-six patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between January 1, 2002, and November 1, 2004, 168 patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass surgery received ketorolac, whereas 1,018 patients did not. There were 2 deaths (1%) in the ketorolac group compared with 104 (10%) in the nonketorolac group (p < 0.001). Within 90 days of surgery, there was 1 death (1%) in the ketorolac group compared with 51 (5%) in the nonketorolac group (p = 0.01). By Cox modeling, ketorolac use was associated with a 7-fold lower risk of death (p = 0.02). In the patients who survived at least 90 days, there was 1 death (1%) in the ketorolac group compared with 53 (5%) in the nonketorolac group (p = 0.01). By Cox modeling, ketorolac use was associated with a 2.4-fold lower risk of death (p = 0.03) in the late hazard period. In the propensity-matched groups, Kaplan-Meier survival was better in patients who received ketorolac (p = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of ketorolac was associated with a statistically significant decrease in mortality at follow-up.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, Medical University of Ohio, Toledo, OH, USA. engoren@pol.net <engoren@pol.net>
authors: Milo C
authors: MC
authors: Engoren
authors: Robert H
authors: RH
authors: Habib
authors: Anoar
authors: A
authors: Zacharias
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Dooner
authors: Thomas A
authors: TA
authors: Schwann
authors: Christopher J
authors: CJ
authors: Riordan
authors: Samuel J
authors: SJ
authors: Durham
authors: Aamir
authors: A
authors: Shah
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D020910:Ketorolac / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D001241:Aspirin; D020910:Ketorolac