Preventive analgesia produced by ketorolac and metamizol was evaluated during a prospective study randomized in two groups. One hundred twenty children were included aged from 3 to 6 years who underwent surgery by different procedures. Analgesic dose was applied 15 min prior to surgery by intravenous (i.v.) via. Technique used was inhaled general anesthesia; use of opioids was avoided. Pain evaluation at the end of surgery (and during the following 48 to 72 h) as well as bleeding time, platelet

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... count, and alterations in white blood cell count were dependent variables. As soon as patients arrived in the recovery room, pain was measured by modified McGrath scales and the chromatic EVA. In ketorolac group, 40% of children showed no pain and 55% presented mild to moderate pain (1-6). In metamizol group, 40% of children referred no pain, while 55% evaluated pain as minimal to moderate. Analgesia produced by both drugs presented no significant statistical diference (p > 0.5). Troughout followup, maximum pain referred had a values of 6 and 7, respectively, for ketorolac and metamizol. Fifteen min after analgesic dose, pain was referred as 3 and 4. No alterations were observed in bleeding time, platelet count, and white blood cell count. We conclude that both analgesics prevent hyperalgesia during post-surgical period.