Korean J Pain.  2010 Jun;23(2):124-130. 10.3344/kjp.2010.23.2.124.

The Effects of Paracetamol, Ketorolac, and Paracetamol Plus Morphine on Pain Control after Thyroidectomy

• Lee SY
• Lee WH
• Lee EH
• Han KC
• Ko YK

• KMID: 1770544
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3344/kjp.2010.23.2.124

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of ketorolac, paracetamol, and paracetamol plus morphine on pain relief after thyroidectomy.
METHODS
Eighty patients were randomly allocated to one of the 4 groups: normal saline (group C), ketorolac 30 mg (group K), paracetamol 1 g (group P), and paracetamol 700 mg plus morphine 3 mg (group PM). Each regimen was administered intravenously (IV) 30 min. before the end of surgery. If pain was not relieved, patients received an IV bolus of pethidine hydrochloride 25 mg. Pain intensity using a visual analogue scale (VAS) was recorded at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 6 hr after the end of surgery.
RESULTS
VAS at 0.5 and 1 hr after the end of surgery were significantly lower in group K, group P, and group PM than in group C (P < 0.05). The number of patients receiving pethidine hydrochloride at 0.5 and 1 hr after the end of surgery was significantly lower in group K, group P, and group PM than in group C (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference among the groups in the incidences of adverse events associated with study medications and patient satisfaction (P > 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Paracetamol 1 g IV possesses a similar analgesic efficacy to ketorolac 30 mg IV after thyroidectomy. Paracetamol may represent an alternative to ketorolac for pain prevention after mildly to moderately painful surgery in situations where the use of NSAIDs is unsuitable.

Keyword

analgesics; ketorolac; paracetamol; thyroidectomy

MeSH Terms

Acetaminophen
Analgesics
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
Humans
Incidence
Ketorolac
Meperidine
Morphine
Patient Satisfaction
Thyroidectomy
Acetaminophen
Analgesics
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
Ketorolac
Meperidine
Morphine

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Comparison of postoperative VAS for pain. VAS at 0.5 and 1 hr after the end of surgery were significantly lower in group K, group P, and group PM than in group C. Value are mean ± SD. Group C: normal saline, Group K: ketorolac 30 mg, Group P: paracetamol 1 g, Group PM: paracetamol 700 mg + morphine 3 mg. *P < 0.05 compared with group C.

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