Intravenous ketorolac tromethamine worsens platelet function during knee arthroscopy under spinal anesthesia

Influence of Ketorolac Supplementation on Pain Control for Knee Arthroscopy: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Introduction

The efficacy of ketorolac supplementation on pain control for knee arthroscopy remains controversial. We conduct a systematic review and meta‐analysis to explore the impact of ketorolac supplementation on pain intensity after knee arthroscopy.

Methods

We search PubMed, EMbase, Web of science, EBSCO, and Cochrane library databases through September 2018 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of ketorolac supplementation vs placebo on pain management after knee arthroscopy. This meta‐analysis is performed using the random‐effect model.

Results

Ten RCTs involving 402 patients are included in the meta‐analysis. Overall, compared with control group for knee arthroscopy, ketorolac supplementation is associated with notably reduced pain scores at 1 h (MD = −0.66; 95% CI = −1.12 to −0.21; P = 0.004) and 2 h (MD = −0.90; 95% CI = −1.74 to −0.07; P = 0.03), prolonged time for first analgesic requirement (MD = 1.94; 95% CI = 0.33 to 3.55; P = 0.02) and decreased number of analgesic requirement (RR = 0.41; 95% CI = 0.23 to 0.75; P = 0.003), but has no obvious impact on analgesic consumption (MD = −0.56; 95% CI = −1.14 to 0.02; P = 0.06), as well as nausea and vomiting (RR = 0.44; 95% CI = 0.12 to 0.21; P = 0.21).

Conclusions

Ketorolac supplementation is effective to produce pain relief for knee arthroscopy.

Platelet Function: Meloxicam Intravenous in Whole Blood Samples From Healthy Volunteers

Nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are effective treatments for pain but may induce bleeding events due to platelet dysfunction associated with inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX)‐1 impairing thromboxane production. An intravenous nanocrystal formulation of meloxicam, a COX‐2 preferential nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug, is under development for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. This single‐center ex vivo study evaluated the effect of meloxicam intravenous and ketorolac on platelet function in whole blood samples from healthy volunteers. Each whole blood sample was aliquoted to allow analysis using a platelet function analyzer under negative control (untreated), positive control (2 therapeutic ketorolac concentrations), and meloxicam intravenous (1 therapeutic, 3 supratherapeutic concentrations) using both collagen with epinephrine and collagen with adenosine diphosphate reagent cartridges. The platelet function analyzer determines closure time by simulating platelet adhesion and aggregation following vascular injury. The final analysis set included data from 8 subjects. The collagen with adenosine diphosphate analysis (sensitive to thrombocytopathies) showed no significant differences in closure time for meloxicam‐ or ketorolac‐treated samples and untreated control. The collagen with epinephrine analysis (sensitive to aspirin‐induced platelet abnormalities) produced no significant difference in closure time between any meloxicam concentration and untreated control. Ketorolac was associated with significantly longer closure times vs untreated control at both the 2.5‐ and 5‐µg/mL concentrations (P = .003 and .0257, respectively) and vs meloxicam at several concentrations. Similar results were observed when all analyzed samples were included. Meloxicam intravenous had no significant effect on closure times at therapeutic or supratherapeutic concentrations in this ex vivo study.

Intrathecal ketorolac enhances intrathecal morphine analgesia following total knee arthroplasty

Background:

Total knee arthroplasty represents one of the most painful surgeries. The aim of the study was to compare analgesia and adverse effects of intrathecal (IT) ketorolac versus IT morphine, versus the combination of IT ketorolac and morphine.

Materials and Methods:

After ethical approval and patient consent, 80 patients undergoing knee arthroplasty were randomized to one of 4 groups. All groups received 15 mg IT bupivacaine plus IT test drug (2 ml). The control group (CG) received saline as IT test drug. The morphine group (MG) received IT 200 g morphine, the ketorolac group (KG) IT 2 mg ketorolac and the morphine-ketorolac group (MKG) 200 g morphine + 2 mg ketorolac as test drugs. Pain and adverse effects were evaluated. P > 0.05 was considered significant.

Results:

The MG and KG were similar in their times to time to first rescue analgesic (440 ± 38 min and 381 ± 44 min, respectively). Both groups were longer when compared to the CG (170 ± 13 min) (P > 0.01). The MG and KG had lesser ketoprofen consumption compared to the CG (P > 0.05). The time to first rescue analgesic was longer to the MKG (926 ± 222 min) (15 h) compared to CG (P > 0.001) and to the MG and the KG (P > 0.01). MKG displayed lesser ketoprofen consumption compared to MG and KG (P > 0.05) and to the CG (P > 0.02).

Conclusions:

The data suggest a role for spinal ketorolac and morphine in orthopaedic surgery because this combination of agents provided 15 h of analgesia compared to 7 h after each drug alone, with no significant side-effects.

The effects of paracetamol, ketorolac, and paracetamol plus morphine on pain control after thyroidectomy

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of ketorolac, paracetamol, and paracetamol plus morphine on pain relief after thyroidectomy.

METHODS

Eighty patients were randomly allocated to one of the 4 groups: normal saline (group C), ketorolac 30 mg (group K), paracetamol 1 g (group P), and paracetamol 700 mg plus morphine 3 mg (group PM). Each regimen was administered intravenously (IV) 30 min. before the end of surgery. If pain was not relieved, patients received an IV bolus of pethidine hydrochloride 25 mg. Pain intensity using a visual analogue scale (VAS) was recorded at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 6 hr after the end of surgery.

RESULTS

VAS at 0.5 and 1 hr after the end of surgery were significantly lower in group K, group P, and group PM than in group C (P < 0.05). The number of patients receiving pethidine hydrochloride at 0.5 and 1 hr after the end of surgery was significantly lower in group K, group P, and group PM than in group C (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference among the groups in the incidences of adverse events associated with study medications and patient satisfaction (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Paracetamol 1 g IV possesses a similar analgesic efficacy to ketorolac 30 mg IV after thyroidectomy. Paracetamol may represent an alternative to ketorolac for pain prevention after mildly to moderately painful surgery in situations where the use of NSAIDs is unsuitable.

Soft tissue injections in the athlete

BACKGROUND

Injections into or adjacent to soft tissue structures, including muscle, tendon, bursa, and fascia, for pain relief and an earlier return to play have become common in the field of sports medicine.

STUDY DESIGN

Clinical review.

RESULTS

Corticosteroids, local anesthetics, and ketorolac tromethamine (Toradol) are the most commonly used injectable agents in athletes. The use of these injectable agents have proven efficacy in some disorders, whereas the clinical benefit for others remain questionable. All soft tissue injections performed for pain control and/or an anti-inflammatory effect have potentially serious side effects, which must be considered, especially in the pregame setting.

CONCLUSIONS

The primary concern regarding corticosteroid and local anesthetic injections is an increased risk of tendon rupture associated with the direct injection into the tendon. Intramuscular Toradol injections provide significant analgesia, as well as an anti-inflammatory effect via its inhibitory effect on the cyclooxygenase pathway. The risk of bleeding associated with Toradol use is recognized but not accurately quantified.