[Comparative study of manual vacuum aspiration and uterine curettage for treatment of abortion]

To compare manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) and uterine curettage (D and C) for first trimester abortions, in terms of the efficiency of eliminating ovular remnants, frequency of complications, duration of the procedure, and duration of patients' hospitalization.

In a prospective study, 50 patients in the MVA group and 50 in the D&C group were randomly included. Inclusion criteria were: spontaneous abortion, gestational age less than 13 weeks, patent cervix, endometrial thickness >15 mm, afebrile state, and hemoglobin >10 g/dl. Blood samples were collected before and after surgical procedures for control of hemoglobin levels. Anesthesia was performed in all cases. The time required for each surgical procedure was recorded.

Groups were similar regarding gestational age (9.93 +/- 2.40 vs 9.73 +/- 2.58 weeks; p = 0.71) and endometrial thickness before surgery (22.14 +/- 4.80 vs 22.68 +/- 5.68 mm; p = 0.65). There were no surgical or anesthetic complications in either group. Durations of the procedure and of hospitalization were significantly shorter in the MVA group (3.71 vs 10.18 min, p < 0.001, and 14.18 vs 23.06 h, p = 0.03, respectively). Decrease of hemoglobin levels was greater after the surgical procedure in the D and C group (p = 0.02).

MVA caused less blood loss, was less time consuming, and resulted in shorter hospitalization. However, both surgical procedures were found to be efficient for treatment of incomplete abortions during the first trimester of pregnancy, with no complications after both treatments.