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

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.