The Ablation or Reduction of Intraoperative Tourniquet Pain with Preoperative Administration of IV Ketorolac Tromethamine

The application of tourniquets on upper or lower extremities is frequently used by surgeons to provide a clear operative field while minimizing blood loss. These are attractive benefits for utilization of tourniquets, however consequences do exist. The release of prostaglandins by injured cells in response to tourniquet compression increases pain perception. This occurs by prostaglandins sensitizing and exciting pain receptors. The purpose of this research is to determine the efficacy of a preoperative dose of ketorolac tromethamine, given prior to tourniquet inflation for orthopedic surgery, to maintain baseline heart rate and blood pressure values. Ketorolac tromethamine, a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug, has physiologic action based upon prostaglandin reduction. It acts peripherally by inhibiting the enzyme cyclooxygenase which converts arachidonic acid to prostaglandins Stoelting, 1991.