Blood loss during first trimester termination of pregnancy: comparison of two anaesthetic techniques

We have compared the effects of two anaesthetic techniques on blood loss during suction termination of pregnancy. Forty-eight ASA grade I-II patients were allocated randomly to one of two groups: group 1 received propofol induction followed by a standard propofol infusion; group 2 received propofol induction followed by maintenance with 1% isoflurane. Both groups received bolus doses of either propofol (group 1) or isoflurane (group 2) if anaesthesia was too light. All patients were given fentanyl 1 micrograms kg-1 on induction. The products of conception were evacuated into a closed suction bottle. The products were diluted with 500 ml of heparinized saline, filtered and left for 20 min. Estimation of blood loss was performed by atomic absorption spectrometry. Mean blood losses were 40.4 ml for the isoflurane group and 18.8 ml for the propofol group. This difference was statistically significant (P = 0.0011), although actual volumes of blood loss were small and not clinically significant.