The purpose of this randomized, double-blind, clinical trial was to determine whether intraoperative, intramuscular (IM) injections of meperidine or ketorolac would improve postoperative pain relief in patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A total of 125 patients were entered into five study groups: 1) (N = 23) control placebo; 2) (N = 31) meperidine 100 mg IM intraoperative preprocedure; 3) (N = 20) meperidine 100 mg IM intraoperative postprocedure; 4) (N = 25) ketorolac tromethamine 60 mg IM intraoperative preprocedure; 5) (N = 26) ketorolac tromethamine 60 mg IM postprocedure. All groups were analyzed by comparing the amount of pain medication received in the recovery room, the time until first oral pain medication was requested, the overall amount of pain medication used in the first 24 hours, the percent requiring IM medication, and the pain score ratings from each group. There was decreased pain medication usage in the recovery room in all groups compared to control (P < 0.05). Group 4 had a longer painfree interval than meperidine groups or control. Both Groups 4 and 5 had decreased postoperative narcotic usage. Finally, the analogue pain scores showed that both ketorolac groups had significantly less postoperative pain compared to control, whereas the meperidine groups showed no improvement in postoperative pain relief. Intraoperative ketorolac given preprocedure or postprocedure significantly improved postoperative pain management and facilitated the transition to oral pain medication.