Cervical priming with misoprostol before manual vacuum aspiration versus electric vacuum aspiration for first-trimester surgical abortion.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the efficacy of manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) with electric vacuum aspiration (EVA) and to evaluate whether cervical priming with misoprostol facilitates cervical dilation and reduces complications associated with first-trimester medical abortion performed up to 10 weeks of pregnancy.

METHODS

A total of 600 women who requested termination of pregnancy were randomized into 4 groups (150 women in each group). Group I and II received a vaginal placebo 3 hours before MVA or EVA, respectively. Group III and IV received 400 μg of vaginal misoprostol 3 hours before MVA or EVA, respectively.

RESULTS

Complete abortion rates after MVA and EVA were both 97.9%; after cervical priming with misoprostol complete abortion rates were 98.6% versus 97.3% after cervical priming with placebo (P>0.05). Administration of misoprostol into the vagina before MVA resulted in 99.3% complete abortions (P=0.40), and the least operative blood loss, operating time, and need for cervical dilation (P<0.05). Overall complications and adverse effects were similar in all groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

For surgical evacuation, EVA and MVA did not differ in efficacy. Cervical priming 3 hours before MVA for termination of pregnancy significantly reduced the need for cervical dilation and the operative time, and improved the efficacy of the procedure. Pretreatment with vaginal misoprostol before MVA is a safe and effective method for terminating pregnancies of up to 10 weeks of gestation.

CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRY: CTRI/2009/091/000008.