Pre-and post-operative intravenous ketoprofen administration for analgesia after tonsillectomy in adults

ABSTRACT

Various studies have shown that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are effective in reducing pain after different types of surgery. They decrease the need for opioids, thus reducing the risk of opioid related side effects. Our study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ketoprofen during tonsillectomy in 50 adult patients receiving standardized general anaesthesia. Twenty patients received intravenous ketoprofen 0.5 mg/kg at induction [Pre-ketoprofen group] and twenty patients after surgery [Post-ketoprofen group] and ten patients received normal saline [Placebo group], Nubain [nalbuphine HCI] was used for rescue analgesia. Patients in both ketoprofen groups experienced less pain than those in the placebo group. There was no difference between the study groups in the proportion of patients who were given nubain during the first 4 hours after surgery, but during the next 20 hours, all patients in placebo group [100%] received nubain compared with patients in the pre-ketoprofen group [70%] and the post-ketoprofen group [65%] [P<0.001]. Patients in the placebo group received significantly more nubain doses than patients in the two ketoprofen groups [P<0.001]. No post-operative bleeding in any patients in all groups. We conclude that pre-and post-operative 0.5 mg/kg intravenous ketoprofen is effective for analgesia after tonsillectomy in adults; without increasing the incidence of post-operative haemorrhage