Safety of ketorolac in surgical neonates and infants 0 to 3 months old

BackgroundKetorolac is a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug widely used as an adjunct to postoperative pain control in adult and pediatric patients. Minimal safety data exist regarding the use of ketorolac in neonates.MethodsThe charts of 57 postsurgical neonates between 0 and 3 months of age were retrospectively reviewed for bleeding events associated with ketorolac. Data included gestational age (GA), corrected gestational age (CGA) at the time of ketorolac, serum creatinine, platelet count, urine output (in milliliters per kilogram per hour), concomitant medications, enteral feeds, number of ketorolac doses, and surgical procedure performed.ResultsOf 57 patients, 10 (17.2%) demonstrated a bleeding event. Mean CGA and serum creatinine for those with bleeding events was 39.4 weeks (P = .69) and 0.64 mg/dL (P = .03), respectively. Patients with a bleeding event received ketorolac at a mean of 20.7 days of life with 70% receiving the drug at less than 14 days of age, whereas those without a bleeding event received ketorolac at a mean of 31.9 days (P = .04). Bleeding events correlated with glomerular filtration rate of less than 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 or concomitant medications in all but 1 patient.ConclusionsInfants younger than 21 days and less than 37 weeks CGA are at significantly increased risk for bleeding events and should not be candidates for ketorolac therapy.