Role of Ketorolac following cleft palate surgery

Timely use of Ketorolac reduces hospitalization and reduces opioid needs by improving pain in children who underwent palatoplasty.

This retrospective study aimed to investigate the effect of Ketorolac (NSAID) on opioid needs and length of hospital stay post-palatoplasty in pediatric patients. 

A t-test analysis evaluated whether initiating Ketorolac within 24 hours post-palatoplasty correlated with reduced hospital stay and opiate use.

The study included patients undergoing palatoplasty by a pediatric otolaryngologist from 2010 to 2020, assessing the impact of adding Ketorolac to the immediate post-operative pain management protocol.

In this study of 55 children (49.1% female), with an average age of 13 months at the time of surgery, early use of Ketorolac was linked with significantly shorter hospital stays and reduced total opioid dosage within 24 hours post-palatoplasty.  

The early initiation of Ketorolac in patients undergoing surgery to correct the palate considerably lessens both length of stay and opiate requirements, leading to improved pain management and potentially influencing long-term recovery and post-discharge opioid needs.

Future studies can show how Ketorolac affects these factors and, if it impacts long-term recovery and the need for pain medication after discharge.