OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of Ketorolac versus Paracetamol as an adjunct to Nalbuphine in the management of post-operative pain following elective cardiac surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized (single-blind) control trial. SAMPLING TECHNIQUE: Computer generated, randomized selection of patients with 50% probability of assignment into either group. PLACE AND STUDY DURATION: (single center) SICU at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases Hospital, Karachi over a period of six months, from January 1, 2021 up to June 30, 2021. METHODS: Sixty patients (30 in each group) were randomly assigned to receive either Paracetamol (control) or Ketorolac (treatment), along with the usual Nalbuphine infusion, over the first 48 hours postoperatively. The control group received injection Paracetamol 1gm six hourly, whereas treatment group received injection Ketorolac 30mg eight hourly. PRIMARY OUTCOME: The VAS (pain score) was evaluated at 6, 12, 18 and 24 hours post-extubation and a score of 4 or less was taken as a cut-off for adequate pain control. SECONDARY OUTCOMES: The time taken to extubation postoperatively. The total dose of Nalbuphine administered to each patient and total chest tube drainage recorded over 48 hours postoperatively.
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Reduction in pain severity
Timeframe: 6 hours apart for total 24 hours(6 hours, 12 hours , 18 hours and 24 hours) post extubation.