Gastric Ulcer Perforation Associated with the Use of Injectable Ketorolac

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of a perforated gastric ulcer associated with the use of injectable ketorolac tromethamine. DATA SYNTHESIS: A 77-year-old woman with no previous history of peptic ulcer disease developed a perforated gastric ulcer after four days of treatment with ketorolac. To date, six other cases of gastrointestinal (GI) perforation associated with the use of ketorolac have been reported to the manufacturer. CONCLUSIONS: Although ketorolac is an effective analgesic, it is a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agent and thus has the propensity for causing GI ulceration. Caution should be used when administering this drug and patients should be monitored for GI adverse effects.