[Comparison of the effectiveness of metal and flexible plastic cannulas in abortion by vacuum aspiration].

A total of 300 abortions were performed--150 with each kind of cannula, selected at random. Except for the cannula, all other elements of abortion were the same and did not change during the whole study. The characteristics of women undergoing abortion did not differ either. The occurrence of complications in women having undergone abortion by the use of metal or the use of flexible plastic cannulas did not differ significantly, the duration of the procedure was the same, but the amount of the tissue exceeding 10 g which was obtained by the subsequent exploration of the uterus was significantly higher with the use of metal than with the use of flexible plastic cannulas. Also the metal cannula got obstructed in the course of the procedure significantly more frequently. The authors conclude that everything considered, the flexible plastic cannula is somewhat more efficacious than the metal one when used for the interruption of pregnancy up to the tenth week of gestation.