Cervical priming with misoprostol before manual vacuum aspiration versus electric vacuum aspiration for first-trimester surgical abortion

• Published in: International journal of gynecology and obstetrics Vol. 112; no. 1; pp. 34 - 39
• Main Authors: Mittal, Suneeta, Sehgal, Rohini, Aggarwal, Sagarika, Aruna, Janaki, Bahadur, Anupama, Kumar, Guresh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.01.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal - administration & dosage; Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal - adverse effects; Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal - therapeutic use; Abortion, Induced - methods; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Birth control; Blood Loss, Surgical; Cervical Ripening - drug effects; Digestive system; Double-Blind Method; Electric vacuum aspiration; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Induced abortion; Induced abortion. Therapeutic abortion; Manual vacuum aspiration; Medical sciences; Misoprostol; Misoprostol - administration & dosage; Misoprostol - adverse effects; Misoprostol - therapeutic use; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Postoperative Complications; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Trimester, First; Prospective Studies; Time Factors; Vacuum Curettage - adverse effects; Vacuum Curettage - methods; Manual vacuum aspiration; Electric vacuum aspiration; Misoprostol; Induced abortion; Gynecology; Manuals; Electric; First trimester; Antiulcer agent; Uterine cervix; Obstetrics; Pregnancy; Treatment; Antisecretory agent; Surgery; Vacuum aspiration; Comparative study; Prostaglandin derivatives
• ISSN: 0020-7292; 1879-3479
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijgo.2010.07.035

Abstract Objective To compare the efficacy of manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) with electric vacuum aspiration (EVA) and to evaluate whether cervical priming with misoprostol facilitates cervical dilation and reduces complications associated with first-trimester medical abortion performed up to 10 weeks of pregnancy. Methods A total of 600 women who requested termination of pregnancy were randomized into 4 groups (150 women in each group). Group I and II received a vaginal placebo 3 hours before MVA or EVA, respectively. Group III and IV received 400 μg of vaginal misoprostol 3 hours before MVA or EVA, respectively. Results Complete abortion rates after MVA and EVA were both 97.9%; after cervical priming with misoprostol complete abortion rates were 98.6% versus 97.3% after cervical priming with placebo ( P > 0.05). Administration of misoprostol into the vagina before MVA resulted in 99.3% complete abortions ( P = 0.40), and the least operative blood loss, operating time, and need for cervical dilation ( P < 0.05). Overall complications and adverse effects were similar in all groups ( P > 0.05). Conclusion For surgical evacuation, EVA and MVA did not differ in efficacy. Cervical priming 3 hours before MVA for termination of pregnancy significantly reduced the need for cervical dilation and the operative time, and improved the efficacy of the procedure. Pretreatment with vaginal misoprostol before MVA is a safe and effective method for terminating pregnancies of up to 10 weeks of gestation. Clinical Trials Registry: CTRI/2009/091/000008