Comparison of Analgesic Effect of Intravenous Paracetamol with Intravenous Ketorolac in Patients Presenting With Renal Colic in the Emergency Department

Abstract

Objective: To compare the effects of intravenous (IV) Paracetamol and intravenous (IV) Ketorolac in pain management of patients with renal colic presenting to the emergency department (ED).

Study Design: Quasi-experimental study.

Place and Duration of Study: Emergency Department, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jan to Jul 2021.

Methodology: Eighty patients were included in the study who were selected and divided into two groups, one receiving Paracetamol 1 g intravenous (PC-Group) and the other receiving Ketorolac 30 mg IV (KET-Group). Their effect was compared using differences in visual analogue scale (VAS) before and after giving analgesia. Record of vital signs pre and post-drug administration, adverse effects and need for rescue analgesia was maintained (Nalbuphine). If further analgesia was required, 100 mg intravenous was used as the rescue drug.

Results: Ketorolac (KET) Group had a mean age of 37.60±14.56 years, while the Paracetamol (PC) Group had a mean age of 43.2 ± 16.05 years. There was no statistically significant difference in the reduction of pain intensity after giving the drug in the respective study Groups (p=0.09). Adverse effects (p=0.17) and the need for rescue analgesia (p=0.34) were also comparable between the two Groups.

Conclusion: The use of either intravenous-PC or intravenous-KET in patients with renal colic had similar analgesic effects with no significant difference in side effects and need for rescue analgesia.