Manual vacuum aspiration, a safe and effective alternative in early pregnancy termination

Vacuum aspiration has become standard surgical procedure for safe early pregnancy termination. Most of these operations are performed in the operating theater using suction curettage and an electric vacuum pump. MVA (manual vacuum aspiration) is an alternative that is well suited for use as a clinical procedure, which could have advantages both for the patient and the health care system. In order to compare conventional VA and MVA in a Swedish setting, a randomized study was undertaken.

Two hundred women requesting abortion in early pregnancy, gestational age less than 56 days, and choosing surgical termination, were randomized to VA or MVA. Main study outcome was frequency of complete abortion but also other variables were recorded.

There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding background characteristics. Altogether 91 MVA and 88 VA operations were performed. There was no significant difference in frequency of complete abortion; two patients in each group subsequently needed re-curettage because of incomplete evacuation. No case of ongoing pregnancy occurred. Two patients in each group received treatment for endometritis. No other complications were recorded.

This study indicates that MVA is effective in emptying the uterine cavity, on par with the standard vacuum aspiration. The rate of complications with MVA was on the same low level as with conventional VA.