Pain Score Assessment Using Single-Dose IV Ketorolac Only, After External Dacryocystorhinostomy: A Randomized Double/Triple-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE To assess efficacy of intravenous (IV) ketorolac for postoperative pain control after external dacryocystorhinostomy. METHOD Fifty-five patients from January to April 2019 were randomized, to a double-blind prospective interventional study. Intervention arm received IV ketorolac (60 mg/2 ml) immediately post-op, control received IV saline bolus. Pain assessment was done with numerical rating scale pre- and postinjection (day 0) and on day 1. Requirement for analgesics and antiemetics was recorded. RESULTS Total 55 patients (11 men and 44 women) with mean age 49.93 ± 16.29 years were included in the study. Twenty-four (43.6%) patients received IV ketorolac and 31 (56.4%) received placebo. Mann-Whitney U test showed mean rank score for pain scale was significantly lower in intervention arm versus control arm, assessed postinjection (16.69 vs. 36.76 respectively, p = .000) and at day 1 (21.08 vs. 33.35 respectively, p = .003). CONCLUSION IV ketorolac significantly lowers self-reported pain score following external dacryocystorhinostomy with reduced requirement of analgesic and antiemetic medications.