This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was done to examine the analgesic effectiveness of Ibuprofen and Ketorolac in renal colic.

Databases including Cochrane Library, EBSCO, PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase were systematically searched for trials that evaluated the pain-alleviating efficacy of Ibuprofen in comparison to Ketorolac for renal colic. Based on the observed heterogeneity, the meta-analysis utilized either a random-effect or fixed-effect model.

Overall, 4 RCTs were incorporated. In patients experiencing renal colic pain, intravenous Ibuprofen and Ketorolac resulted in similar pain scores at 15 minutes (Mean difference [MD] = -0.46; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = -1.24 to 0.31; P = 0.24), 30 minutes (MD = -0.81; 95% CI = -1.75 to 0.31; P = 0.09), 60 minutes (MD = -0.63; 95% CI = -1.40 to 0.13; P = 0.10), and 120 minutes (MD = -0.74; 95% CI = -2.18 to 0.70; P = 0.31), as well as in terms of adverse events such as nausea and vomiting (Odds ratio = 0.95; 95% CI = 0.61 to 1.49; P = 0.83).

Ibuprofen exhibited comparable analgesic efficiency to Ketorolac in the context of relieving renal colic pain.