Effect of hyoscine-N-butylbromide on labor duration among nullipara in a southwestern Nigerian teaching hospital: A randomized controlled trial

Objective To assess the effectiveness of hyoscine-N-butylbromide on the duration of the first stage of labor among nulliparous women. Methods A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study among 126 nulliparous women admitted in the active phase of labor to a teaching hospital in Sagamu, Nigeria, from January to August 2018. Based on the inclusion criteria, women were recruited and randomized to the study or control group, and given intravenous hyoscine-N-butylbromide 20 mg (1 mL) or sterile water (1 mL), respectively, during the active phase. Labor progress and outcomes were compared between the groups. Results The mean +/- SD duration of active phase of first stage of labor was significantly shorter in the hyoscine-N-butylbromide group (324.9 +/- 134.6 min) than in the control group (392.7 +/- 119.6 min) (P = 0.004). The rate of cervical dilatation was 1.4 +/- 0.8 cm/h in the hyoscine-N-butylbromide group and 1.0 +/- 0.5 cm/h in the control group (P = 0.004). There were no significant differences in fetal heart rate, maternal vital signs, or Apgar scores between the two groups. Conclusion Hyoscine-N-butylbromide was found to be effective in shortening the duration of the first stage of labor without adverse outcomes for mother or neonate. The trial was registered with the Pan African Clinical trials Registry (PACTR), protocol number: PACTR201808146688942 ().

Automated summary

This study assessed the effectiveness of Butylbromide on the duration of the first stage of labor among nulliparous women. The results showed that Butylbromide significantly reduced the duration of labor and increased the rate of cervical dilation in comparison to the control group, without any significant differences in fetal heart rate, maternal vital signs, or Apgar scores.