The Effect of Ketorolac on Postoperative Febrile Morbidity in

Abdominal  Myomectomy Patients

Drs. Barbara I. Held, Anne Michels, Jody Blanco, Charles Ascher-Walsh
      New York Presbyterian Hospital
      New York, New York

Objective:   This study was undertaken to determine whether administering the anti-inflammatory agent ketorolac in the post-operative period following abdominal myomectomy reduces the incidence of febrile morbidity.
Study Design:  This prospective, randomized, double blinded clinical investigation compared administering ketorolac 15mg intravenously every 6 hours beginning in the recovery room following the surgery to saline administered in the same regimen.  Pre-op, surgical and post-operative data was gathered.  The primary outcome was fever greater that 101^oF in the post-operative period.
Results:   One hundred twenty two patients were enrolled in the study; data was analyzed on one hundred twelve with 56 in the ketorolac treatment group and 56 in the saline placebo group.  After controlling for possible confounding factors by using logistic regression, our data reveal a statistically significant reduction in the febrile morbidity in the ketorolac treated group (15 of 56 patients or 27%) when compared to the saline treated group (23 of 56 patients or 41%) (p=.04).
Conclusion:   Treatment with ketorolac in the immediate post-operative period following an abdominal myomectomy results in a statistically significant reduction in the rate of febrile morbidity.