The effect of Hyoscine butyl bromide on the duration and course of labor

Cervical dystocia is caused by cervical spasm due to prolonged labor. Maternal complications can arise due to this such as intrapartum infection, pathological retraction ring (Bandls ring), maternal morbidity and it may also contribute to perinatal morbidity and mortality. Various spasmolytic drugs can help to relieve the cervical spasm and facilitate cervical dilatation during the first stage thereby decreasing the rate of cervical dystocia.

This was a prospective study conducted in a tertiary center over a span of 1 year. 60 patients were randomly allotted in 2 groups.

30 patients (15 primigravida and 15 multigravida)-control group

30 patients (15 primigravida and 15 multigravida)-Injection Hyoscine butyl bromide (Buscopan) group. Injection Hyoscine butyl bromide 20 mg intramuscular was given at 3cm cervical dilatation. No further dose was given. A statistical test, ‘unpaired t test’, was used to test the results for statistical significance. A x² (chi square) test was used to

test results of side effects for statistical significance.

The duration of active first stage of labor was shorter in the Hyoscine butylbromide group (170.3 min) as compared to control group (216.7 min) in primigravida and multigravida (hyoscine butyl bromide group 120.9 min and control group 153.3 min). An unpaired t test showed p value of 0.011 in primigravida patients and p value of 0.003 in multigravida patients). No significant maternal and neonatal side effects were noted in the drug arm when compared to the control group (p value > 0.05).

The rate of cervical dilatation under the influence of hyoscine butylbromide is significantly higher as compared to control group. The rate of dilatation is faster in multigravida patients as compared to primigravida. Hyoscine butylbromide is a safe drug with no fetal side effects or any significant maternal side effects