• Hung Lau, Cynthia Wong, Lung C Goh, Nivritti G Patil, and Francis Lee.
• Department of Surgery, Tung Wah Hospital, University of Hong Kong Medical Centre, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong. lauh@hkucc.hku.hk
• ANZ J Surg. 2002 Oct 1;72(10):704-7.

BackgroundA pre-emptive non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug is routinely given to patients undergoing ambulatory inguinal hernia repair. The present prospective randomized trial was undertaken to compare the efficacy of intravenous ketorolac and rectal diclofenac for ambulatory inguinal hernia repairs.MethodsBetween June 1999 and February 2001, a total of 108 patients who underwent ambulatory inguinal hernia repairs under general anaesthesia were recruited. Patients were randomized to receive either intravenous ketorolac 30 mg immediately prior to induction of general anaesthesia (n = 54) or rectal diclofenac 50 mg after signing consent at the Day Surgery Centre (n = 54).ResultsThe demographic features, hernia types, anaesthetic time, dosage of anaesthetic medication and operative details of the two groups were comparable. There was no significant difference in total amount of analgesic consumption and linear analogue pain scores after operation. With regard to recovery variables, the respective times taken to regain ambulation and micturition were similar in both groups.ConclusionDiclofenac suppository 50 mg and intravenous ketorolac 30 mg provided equivalent postoperative analgesia following ambulatory inguinal hernia repair under general anaesthesia. Diclofenac suppository is an economical alternative to intravenous ketorolac. In the interests of cost containment rectal diclofenac could be considered the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug of choice for pre-emptive analgesia.

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