The Effect of Intra-operative Ketorolac on Hematoma Rates in Breast Reduction Surgery: A Double Blind Randomized Control Trial

It has been a longstanding teaching in plastic surgery that intra-operative ketorolac use for postoperative pain control increases hematoma and bleeding in breast reduction surgery. However, there is no literature that supports this teaching. Ketorolac is used routinely in free flap reconstruction including breast reconstruction as well as many other surgeries including hand surgery without increased risks of hematoma or bleeding. Ketorolac has been shown to give good postoperative pain control. The object of this study is to look at whether ketorolac increases the rate of hematoma/bleeding in breast reduction. If there is no increased risk of hematoma, then ketorolac can be used safely for postoperative pain control with an increased risk of hematoma/bleeding. Normally, without using ketorolac, the hematoma rates in a breast reduction are 1-2%.