The effect of ketorolac on postoperative febrile episodes in patients after abdominal myomectomy.

OBJECTIVE

Our purpose was to determine whether administering the anti-inflammatory agent ketorolac after abdominal myomectomy reduces the incidence of febrile episodes.

STUDY

DESIGN

This prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical investigation compared administering ketorolac 15 mg intravenously every 6 hours beginning in the recovery room with saline solution administered in the same regimen in 122 patients undergoing abdominal myomectomy in a large, urban academic medical center. The primary outcome was fever >101.0 degrees F in the postoperative period. Results were analyzed by chi(2) analysis, independent samples t test, and logistic regression.

RESULTS

Data were analyzed on 112 patients, with 56 in the treatment group and 56 in the placebo group. After confounding factors were controlled with logistic regression, the data revealed a statistically significant reduction in febrile episodes in the ketorolac-treated group (27%) compared with the saline solution-treated group (41%) (P =.04).

CONCLUSION

Treatment with ketorolac after abdominal myomectomy results in a statistically significant reduction in the rate of febrile episodes.