Manual Vacuum Aspiration Versus Expectant Management for First Trimester Miscarriage: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background Miscarriage is one of the common problems encountered in pregnancy. The treatment modalities are expectant, medical, and surgical management. This study compared the effectiveness and safety of manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) with expectant management for first trimester miscarriage. Method This randomized controlled trial was conducted in Teaching Hospital Jaffna, Jaffna, Sri Lanka, and 134 eligible patients with first trimester spontaneous miscarriage were randomized to expectant management (67) and MVA (67). Those allocated to expectant management were managed expectantly for up to two weeks, and those allocated to MVA underwent aspiration under a paracervical block in the ward. The primary outcome was complete evacuation of the uterus, and the secondary outcomes were duration of bleeding, duration of pain, level of pain, need for the second procedure, cervical or uterine injuries, and patient satisfaction. Results Of the 134 eligible women, seven were lost to follow-up and 127 were analyzed. The MVA was superior in achieving complete evacuation compared to expectant management (95.2% vs. 70.3%; p ≤ 0.001). Notably, in both groups, complete evacuation was more readily achievable in incomplete miscarriage than in missed miscarriage. Duration of bleeding (mean days, 1.6 vs. 4.3; p ≤ 0.0001), duration of pain (mean days, 1.0 vs. 4.2; p ≤ 0.0001), and the need for additional surgical procedure in the form of dilatation and curettage (4.8% vs. 29.7%; p ≤ 0.001) were lower in MVA. Patient satisfaction was higher in the MVA group than in the expectant group (93.7% vs. 65.6%; p ≤ 0.001). No statistically significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of blood transfusion and infection. There wasn't any incidence of cervical damage or uterine perforation. Conclusion MVA is an effective and safe treatment method for first trimester miscarriage with higher patient satisfaction.

Keywords: complete evacuation in manual vacuum aspiration; complications of manual vacuum aspiration; expectant management; manual vacuum aspiration success rate; manual vacuum aspiration versus expectant management; miscarriage; randomized trial on manual vacuum aspiration.

Figure 1. Flow of the participants through the stages of research

MVA, manual vacuum aspiration

Figure 2. Success rate of expectant management according to time