A randomized comparison of different methods of analgesia in abortion using manual vacuum aspiration

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the effectiveness of different methods of analgesia among women treated with manual vacuum aspiration for spontaneous abortion.

Materials and methods: The 113 patients diagnosed with incomplete abortion and considered candidates for manual vacuum aspiration were randomly assigned to 3 groups of analgesic administration: diclofenac plus paracervical block; meperidine plus diclofenac; and meperidine alone. Pain levels were evaluated using the Wong Scale of Pain.

Results: The mean pain scores for the three groups were: diclofenac and paracervical block 5.4; meperidine plus diclofenac 5.0; meperidine 5.7 (P=0.57). Analysis of pain using the levels mild (0-3), moderate (4-6), and severe (7-10) showed no statistical significance among the 3 groups of analgesics. Adverse effects were more common in the groups using analgesia containing meperidine.

Conclusions: There was no significant difference between the analgesics used among the 3 groups. Most of the patients, regardless of the analgesic used, reported moderate pain.