Use of intravenous ketorolac in the neonate and premature babies

BACKGROUND: Ketorolac is a powerful nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug widely used for pain control in children and adults. The aim of this study was to evaluate its safety and analgesic efficacy in the neonate. METHODS: Ketorolac was used in a group of 18 spontaneously breathing neonates presenting with chronic lung disease, for the control of postsurgical pain and pain from invasive procedures. Pain scores (Neonatal Infant Pain Scale) were assessed before and after i.v. administration of 1 mg.kg(-1) of ketorolac. RESULTS: Total pain control was achieved in 94.4% of the neonates. None of the neonates had haematological, renal or hepatic changes prior to treatment, and these complications did not occur after treatment. No neonate had systemic haemorrhage or bleeding from injection and blood withdrawal sites. CONCLUSIONS: Ketorolac could represent an efficacious analgesic alternative to opioids, particularly in neonates. It would avoid the side-effects associated with opioid analgesics, especially respiratory depression