A comparative study between ketorolac and ketoprofen in postoperative pain after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.

UNLABELLED: Postoperative pain is a serious problem, requiring an appropriate response from the medical doctor. In otolaryngology special attention is needed after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UP3).

AIM: To compare the efficacy of postoperative analgesia using ketorolac and ketoprofen after UP3.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

A prospective, randomized, double-blind study was made of 24 patients that were divided into 2 groups (14 received ketorolac and 10 received ketoprofen). Pain intensity was based on an analog visual scale and the need for opioids (tramadol).

RESULTS

Of the 13 patients that received ketorolac, 3 (21%) required opioids; 7 of 10 (70%) patients in ketoprofen group used opioids. 12 hours after surgery, 71% of the patients that received ketorolac had mild or absence of pain. 70% of the ketoprofen users reported moderate to significant pain. 24 hours after surgery, 60% of the patients using ketoprofen reported moderate to significant pain, while 86% of the ketorolac users reported mild or absence of pain.

CONCLUSION

We concluded that ketorolac is more effective compared to ketoprofen in the treatment of immediate postoperative pain after UP3, as patients using ketorolac had less pain and used opioids to a lesser degree.