Randomized, Clinical Trial on the Preventive Effects of Butylscopolamine on Early Postoperative Catheter-related Bladder Discomfort

Background: Postoperative catheter-related bladder discomfort (CRBD) can be a distressing complication for patients in whom a urinary catheter was inserted during an operation. Our randomized, dual-center, clinical trial investigated the effects of butylscopolamine on the prevention of postoperative CRBD in patients undergoing various operations.

Methods: Adult male patients undergoing elective operations requiring intraoperative urinary catheterization under general anesthesia were enrolled. They were assigned randomly to 2 groups: The butylscopolamine group (n = 49) received 20 mg of butylscopolamine intravenously immediately before the end of the operation; no medication was given for prevention of CRBD in the control group (n = 50). The presence and severity of CRBD were assessed at 1, 2, and 6 hours postoperatively. Adverse effects of butylscopolamine were also examined.

Results: The overall incidence of CRBD was less in the butylscopolamine group than in the control group (31% vs 66%, respectively; P = .001). The incidence of CRBD at 1, 2, and 6 hours postoperatively was also less in the butylscopolamine group (P = .006, .04, and .048, respectively). In addition, the average severity of CRBD for 6 hours postoperatively was significantly less in the butylscopolamine group than in the control group (median, 0 [interquartile range, 0-17] vs 22 [interquartile range, 0-47], respectively; P = .002). Adverse effects were comparable between the 2 groups.

Conclusion: Intravenous administration of butylscopolamine at the end of an operation decreases effectively the incidence and severity of early postoperative CRBD without adverse effects.