Amount of tissue evacuated by vacuum aspiration in therapeutic abortions

Following therapeutic abortion in 280 patients prior to the 12th week of gestation, and amount of tissue aspirated was investigated. Measurement of the amount of tissue removed by vacuum suction after dilatation of the cervical canal showed a definite relationship between tissue quantity and gestational age. However, there was a wide range of tissue quantity in the various gestational age groups. The amount of blood lost during the procedure also depended upon gestational age. In 71% of the patients less than 100 ml was lost. There was no difference in the amount of blood lost between primigravidae and multigravidae when regard is paid to gestational age. No case of ectopic pregnancy was found. Re-evacuation was performed in 9 cases. The amount of tissue than recovered was small, in 7 cases 10 ml or less. Placental tissue was removed at re-evaluation in only one of these patients, decidua in all the others. It is concluded that measurement of the amount of tissue removed does not permit assessment of whether the uterine cavity has been adequately evacuated.