Comparative effects of three doses of intravenous ketorolac or morphine on emesis and analgesia for restorative dental surgery in children

Purpose: The optimal dose of intravenous ketorolac tromethamine (ketorolac), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug has not been determined in children. There are only limited published data on the use of intravenous ketorolac for paediatric analgesia. This study compares the analgesic and emetic effect of three different doses of ketorolac with morphine in paediatric dental surgical out-patients. Methods: Following institutional approval and parental consent, 120 ASA I or II children, age 2-10 yr were randomized to four groups and received ketorolac 0.75, 1.0, and 1.5 mg . kg(-1) or morphine 0.1 mg . kg(-1) iv at induction of a standardized anaesthetic. At 15 and 30 min after arrival in the recovery room a blinded observer assessed pain using the Objective Pain Score (OPS). Twenty-four hours after surgery a telephone interview was carried out with a parent at home. Results: There were no differences in demographic data, anaesthesia time, recovery and day-care unit time, OPS and postoperative analgesic requirements in the four groups. Postoperative vomiting in the first 24 hr occurred more frequently in the morphine group than in the other groups (P < 0.0166). No patient had excessive surgical bleeding. Conclusions: Ketorolac, in all doses studied (0.75, 1.0 and 1.5 mg . kg(-1) was as effective an analgesic as morphine 0.1 mg . kg(-1) given intravenously at induction to children having restorative dental surgery. Its use was associated with a significant reduction in the incidence of postoperative vomiting.