The Efficacy of Hyoscine Butyl Bromide in Accelerating Cervical Dilatation in Labour: A Double Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: The use of hyoscine butyl bromide to reduce the duration of labor is an interesting area of research as part of the efforts to mitigate the complications of prolonged labor.  Study Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of hyoscine butyl bromide in the acceleration of cervical dilatation in labor. Methodology: This was a double-blind randomized controlled study done at National Hospital Abuja from 2017 to 2019, in which 130 parturients in spontaneous labor were randomized into one of two parallel treatment groups. The study group received a single dose of 20mg of hyoscine butyl bromide intramuscularly on the diagnosis of the active phase of labor while the control group received 1ml of distilled water. Results: The mean duration of the first stage of labor in the study group was 279.73±160min and 319.25±144min in the control group (t=-1.44, P=0.15, 95% CI -94.48-14.84). The differences in the duration of the second and third stages in both groups were not statistically significant. Subgroup analysis showed a statistically significant reduction in the first stage duration in the hyoscine group of the parous patients (183.23±116.58 min vs 288.28±151.19 min, t=-2.99,  p = 0.004, 95% CI-175.31 to -34.78) There were no statistically significant differences in maternal drug side effects, estimated blood loss and immediate neonatal outcome (P > 0.05) Conclusion: Intramuscular hyoscine butyl bromide did not show efficacy in accelerating cervical dilatation in the general study sample, however, it was found to accelerate cervical dilatation in the parous parturients. It is recommended for the acceleration of labor in women with previous parous experience.