THE EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF BUSCOPAN (HYOSCINE-N-BUTYL BROMIDE) ON THE DURATION OF LABOUR

A double-blind study included 200 women attending labour ward. They were divided into two groups; group A (cases) received Buscopan 20mg I.V and group B (controls) received placebo intravenously. Assessment of cervical dilatation was carried out every hour post injection. The duration of the stages of labour, maternal and neonatal outcome was determined. The study revealed that cervical dilatation at 1 hour was significantly lesser in group A (6.8+1.8) cm compared to (7.6 + 2.1) cm in the control group (P<0.05). The duration of the first stage of labour was significantly longer among group A (4.1+1.8) hours as compared with the controls (3.4 + 1.6 hours) P<0.05. The frequency of caesarean section was significantly higher among group A (12 %) compared to controls (4%), P.value < 0.05. Fetal heart rate was significantly higher among group A (137.8+11.2 beat/min) compared to control (133.5+9.9 beat/min), P < 0.001. We conclude that the administration of Buscopan decelerate the cervical dilatation in the first stage of labour and causes prolongation in its duration. Also it is associated with small, but obvious fetal risk, and an increase in the rate of Caesarean section.