Phloroglucinol for Acceleration of Labour: Double Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effect of Phloroglucinol Trimethylether vs Placebo on the duration of 1 stage of labour in term pregnancies. Study Design: Quasi experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Obs/Gynae wards IIMC, Railway hospital, Rawalpindi from June 2011 to May 2012. Materials and Methods: A double blind randomized placebo controlled trial was conducted on 131 patients in active phase of uncomplicated labour. The patients were randomized into two groups by simple random technique. After evaluation, patients were divided into group A and B. Neither the patients nor the doctor knew about the injection of phloroglucinol or distilled water. Sixty five patients in group a received Phloroglucinol Trimethylether 40 mg (4 ml) intravenous and 66 patients in group B received distilled water as placebo at 4 cm cervical dilatation. Dose was repeated after 60 minutes. Maximum 3 doses were given. Progress of labour was plotted on partogram. Any adverse effects of the drug on mother and fetus were noted. Student't-test was applied for statistical analysis. Results: Out of 131 labouring patients, 61 patients from group A and 61 patients from group B were included in analysis. During 1st stage of labour 61 cases(100%) received 1 injection, whereas 11 cases (18.0%) were given 2 injections and 3 cases (4.91%) received 3 injections during the 1st stage of labour in group A and in group B 61 patients (100%) received 1 injection , 52 patients (85.2%) were given 2 injection and 37 cases (60.6%) were received 3 injection. The average duration of observed active phase of 1st stage of labour was shortened by almost two hours in patients receiving Phloroglucinol. The mean duration of 2nd stage of labour in group A was 25.16 mins and 34.52 mins in group B. Conclusions: Phloroglucinol definitely has a therapeutic role to play in obstetrics with its strong antispasmodic effect. In the presence of good and regular uterine contractions, it shortens the duration of labour, is non toxic to both mother and fetus and it also decreases the severity of labour pain.

Keywords

• phloroglucinol, first stage of labour, duration of labour, placebo