The need for repeat evacuation of retained products of conception: how common is it?

Evacuation of retained products of conception with suction curettage is a widely used method for the management of missed miscarriage, incomplete miscarriage and termination of pregnancy. This procedure carries a risk of incomplete evacuation, which may lead to a further repeat evacuation. There are limited data on the incidence of repeat evacuation for suspected retained products. We undertook a retrospective audit on patients who underwent suction curettage for retained products of conception between January 2006 and February 2008, in order to evaluate the rate of repeat evacuation. Our study showed 3.1% (17 of 541) of patients underwent a repeat evacuation for suspected retained products. Suction curettage remains a safe and common procedure, however, it is important to minimise the recurrence of repeat evacuations through the use of medical management, improved training and local guidelines. This in turn should lower the risk of further complications associated with a surgical procedure.