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Three Part Question

In [a patient with colicy abdominal pain] is [buscopan (hyoscine butylbromide) better than analgesics] at [controlling pain]?

Clinical Scenario

A 38 year old man presents with moderate to severe non-specific abdominal pain that is colicy in nature. He has no significant past history. Examination reveals mild tenderness but no signs of peritonism. Oral analgesia seems unlikely to control his pain. You speak to a colleague who suggests that you use buscopan (hyoscine butylbromide) - an antispasmodic. You wonder if there is any evidence that this works.

Search Strategy

Medline 1966-02/03 using the OVID interface.
[exp abdominal pain OR (abdominal adj5 pain).af OR (stomach adj5 ache).af OR exp abdomen, actue OR {(abdom$.af OR tummy.af OR belly.af OR gut.af) AND (exp pain OR pain.af OR ache.af OR exp colic OR colic$.af OR discomfort.af)}] AND [exp butylscopolammonium bromide OR butylscopolammonium.af OR buscopan.af OR exp scopolamine OR scopolamine.af OR hyoscine.af OR exp scopolamine derivatives OR hyocine.af] LIMIT to human AND English.

Search Outcome

Altogether 31 papers found of which none were relevant.

Comment(s)

There is very little research into the effects of buscopan on any form of pain.

Clinical Bottom Line

There is no evidence supporting the use of buscopan in non-specific abdominal pain.