Background: Incomplete abortion is a major problem that should be effectively managed with safe and appropriate procedures. Surgical evacuation of the uterus for management of incomplete abortion usually involves vacuum aspiration or sharp curettage.
Objectives: To compare the safety and effectiveness of surgical uterine evacuation methods for management of incomplete abortion.
Search strategy: We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group trials register, Medline from 1966, Popline from 1970, and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register. Trials were also identified from reference lists of reviews. Date of last search: October 2000.
Selection criteria: Randomized trials where different surgical methods were used to manage incomplete abortion were eligible for inclusion.
Data collection and analysis: We extracted population characteristics, settings, and exclusion criteria, in addition to outcomes such as complications of the procedure, duration, need for re-evacuation, blood transfusion, and analgesia/anesthesia.
Main results: Two trials were included. Vacuum aspiration was associated with statistically significantly decreased blood loss (-17 mls weighted mean difference, 95% confidence interval (CI) -24 to -10 mls), less pain (relative risk (RR): 0.74, 95% CI 0.61, 0.90), and shorter duration of procedure (-1.2 minutes weighted mean difference, 95% CI -1.5 to -0.87 minutes), than sharp curettage, in the single study that evaluated these outcomes. Serious complications such as uterine perforation and other morbidity were rare and the sample sizes of the trials were not large enough to evaluate small or moderate differences.
Reviewer's conclusions: Vacuum aspiration is safe, quick to perform, and less painful than sharp curettage, and should be recommended for use in the management of incomplete abortion. Analgesia and sedation should be provided as necessary for the procedure.