Analgesic effects of ketorolac/lidocaine compared to dexmedetomidine/lidocaine in intravenous regional anesthesia

Introduction: Intravenous regional anesthesia is known as a safe and reliable technique for anesthesia and reduction of bleeding during limb surgeries. The aim of this study is to compare the addition of ketorolac or dexmedetomidine to lidocaine in intravenous regional anesthesia. Materials and Methods: In this double-blind clinical trial, ninety patients who were admitted for surgery on hand or forearm in Vali-Asr Hospital, Arak city, entered the study. Then, the patients divided into three equal groups. The first group received 3 mg/kg lidocaine 0.5%, the second group received 1 μg/kg dexmedetomidine with lidocaine, and the third group received 30 mg ketorolac with lidocaine. The time to analgesia, pain during surgery, onset of pain after tourniquet deflation, and the pain after tourniquet deflation were measured. Results: The mean duration to analgesia was 7.37 ± 0.67 min in control group, 5.23 ± 0.68 min in dexmedetomidine group, and 4.90 ± 0.76 min in ketorolac group (P = 0.164). In total of 3 times of measurement of pain after injection, the mean visual analog scale in ketorolac group was significantly lower than lidocaine (P = 0.0001) and dexmedetomidine (P = 0.009) groups. In all time intervals after tourniquet deflation, the mean score of pain was significantly lower in ketorolac group. Conclusion: Ketorolac could control the perioperative pain and the pain after tourniquet deflation. It seems that ketorolac is a useful and effective choice for pain relief for patients undergoing intravenous regional anesthesia.