Impact of Ketorolac on Reoperation for Hemorrhage After Pediatric Tonsillectomy: A Single‐Center Retrospective Propensity‐Matched Study.

Objective: To determine if perioperative ketorolac is associated with an increased rate of reoperation for hemorrhage after pediatric tonsillectomy at 30 days and 48 hours. Study Design: Single‐center retrospective propensity‐matched study. Setting: Quaternary pediatric hospital and ambulatory surgery center. Methods: Patients less than 18 years old undergoing tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy between January 1, 2015 and October 1, 2020 were included. Hemorrhage rates between exposed (K+) and unexposed (K−) patients were calculated for the total cohort and a 1:1 propensity‐matched cohort. Additional analyses included: multivariable logistic regression, subgroup analysis of ASA 1 and 2 patients, subgroup analysis comparing children with teenagers. Results: There were 5873 patients (42.1% K+) in the full cohort and 4694 patients in the propensity‐matched cohort. Reoperation for hemorrhage within 30 days occurred in 1.9% of K+ patients and 1.6% of K− patients (P = 0.455) in the full cohort and 1.9% of K+ patients and 1.7% of K− patients (odds ratio [OR] 1.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.72‐1.69, P = 0.662) in the propensity‐matched cohort. Reoperation within 48 hours occurred in 0.65% of K+ patients and 0.53% of K− patients (P = 0.679) in the full cohort and 0.68% of K+ patients and 0.51% of K− patients (OR 1.33, 95% CI 0.63‐2.81, P = 0.451) in the propensity‐matched cohort. There was no association between perioperative ketorolac administration and reoperation for hemorrhage in any of the other analyses. Conclusion: Ketorolac at end of surgery should be considered as part of the nonopioid analgesic regimen for pediatric tonsillectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]