Use of an antispasmodic (rociverine) to shorten the length of labor: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effectiveness of rociverine, an antispasmodic drug, for reducing the duration of labor among nulliparous women managed according to a standard intrapartum protocol.

DESIGN

Randomized controlled trial.

SETTING

An academic tertiary care hospital.

POPULATION: Nulliparae in spontaneous active labor, with cervical dilatation between 3 and 5 cm.

METHODS

Participants were randomly assigned to receive either an intramuscular injection of 20mg rociverine (n=55) or the same volume of saline (n=56).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Cervical dilatation rate (from administration of study drug to full dilatation).

RESULTS

Laboring women who received rociverine had faster cervical dilatation than those assigned to placebo (2.43 ± 1.84 vs. 1.85 ± 1.38 cm/hour, p=0.03). The time interval from treatment administration to full cervical dilatation was shorter in the rociverine group than in the placebo group (220 ± 125 vs. 278 ± 129 min, p=0.04). No difference was found in any other obstetric outcome. No adverse effects have been recorded from rociverine administration.

CONCLUSIONS

Intrapartum administration of rociverine to nulliparous women may help to reduce the duration of the first stage of labor in a context of uniform labor management.