Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of hyoscine-N-butyl bromide (Buscopan) suppositories in the active phase of labour, i.e. once the labour is established.
Methods: A non-randomised controlled prospective study was carried out on 200 women in labour. In the active phase of labour, at 3 cm or more cervical dilatation, 100 women were administered Buscopan via suppository and 100 women (control) were not given any drug.
Results: The duration of first stage of labour was 123.86 +/- 68.89 (mean(+)-standard deviation) minutes in the study group and 368.05 +/- 133.0 min in the control group. These differences were statistically significant. There were no differences in the duration of the second and third stages of labour. There was no increased incidence of operative deliveries in the study group. No adverse effects were noted on the mother or fetus.
Conclusion: Hyoscine-N-butyl bromide (HBB, Buscopan) suppositories were highly effective in shortening the duration of the first stage of labour.