Increased Ketorolac Administration After Cesarean Section and Its Effect on Opioid Use: a Randomized Control Trial

Increased Ketorolac Administration After Cesarean Section and Its Effect on Opioid Use: a Randomized Control Trial

To evaluate the efficacy of increased ketorolac in reducing opioid use after cesarean section.

This was a single-center, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group trial to assess pain management following cesarean section with increased ketorolac versus placebo. All patients undergoing cesarean section with neuraxial anesthesia received two doses of 30mg IV ketorolac postoperatively per hospital protocol and were then randomized to receive an additional four doses of 30 mg of IV ketorolac or placebo every 6 hours. The primary outcome was the total morphine milligram equivalents (MME) used in the first 72 postoperative hours. Secondary outcomes included the number of patients that used no opioid postoperatively, postoperative pain scores, postoperative change in hematocrit and creatinine, and postoperative satisfaction with inpatient care and pain management. A sample size of 74 per group (n=148) was planned.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Women presenting for care at Tufts Medical Center as an outpatient in obstetrics clinic or on Labor and Delivery.
• The subject must have had a cesarean section for any indication at Tufts Medical Center to be randomized to the study
• The subject is willing to have a phone call follow up conversation 2 weeks after their surgery.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with allergy to ketorolac, NSAIDS or aspirin
• Patients with peptic ulcer disease, preexisting kidney or liver disease.
• Duramorph is not used as the anesthetic for the spinal/epidural during the cesarean section.
• Patient is hemodynamically unstable due to hemorrhage.
• Patient requires therapeutic anticoagulation in the post-operative period
• Patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy
• Provider decision to exclude patient.
• Patient diagnosis of chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome, or eclampsia
• A study subject may participate in another research study while participating in this research study.