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JAMA Apr 2023Vacuum aspiration is commonly used to remove retained products of conception in patients with incomplete spontaneous abortion. Scarring of the uterine cavity may occur,...
IMPORTANCE
Vacuum aspiration is commonly used to remove retained products of conception in patients with incomplete spontaneous abortion. Scarring of the uterine cavity may occur, potentially impairing future fertility. A procedural alternative, operative hysteroscopy, has gained popularity with a presumption of better future fertility.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the superiority of hysteroscopy to vacuum aspiration for subsequent pregnancy in patients with incomplete spontaneous abortion who intend to have future pregnancy.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
The HY-PER randomized, controlled, single-blind trial included 574 patients between November 6, 2014, and May 3, 2017, with a 2-year duration of follow-up. This multicenter trial recruited patients in 15 French hospitals. Individuals aged 18 to 44 years and planned for surgery for an incomplete spontaneous abortion with plans to subsequently conceive were randomized in a 1:1 ratio.
INTERVENTIONS
Surgical treatment by hysteroscopy (n = 288) or vacuum aspiration (n = 286).
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
The primary outcome was a pregnancy of at least 22 weeks' duration during 2-year follow-up.
RESULTS
The intention-to-treat analyses included 563 women (mean [SD] age, 32.6 [5.4] years). All aspiration procedures were completed. The hysteroscopic procedure could not be completed for 19 patients (7%), 18 of which were converted to vacuum aspiration (8 with inability to completely resect, 7 with insufficient visualization, 2 with anesthetic complications that required a shortened procedure, 1 with equipment failure). One hysteroscopy failed due to a false passage during cervical dilatation. During the 2-year follow-up, 177 patients (62.8%) in the hysteroscopy group and 190 (67.6%) in the vacuum aspiration (control) group achieved the primary outcome (difference, -4.8% [95% CI, -13% to 3.0%]; P = .23). The time-to-event analyses showed no statistically significant difference between groups for the primary outcome (hazard ratio, 0.87 [95% CI, 0.71 to 1.07]). Duration of surgery and hospitalization were significantly longer for hysteroscopy. Rates of new miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies, Clavien-Dindo surgical complications of grade 3 or above (requiring surgical, endoscopic, or radiological intervention or life-threatening event or death), and reinterventions to remove remaining products of conception did not differ between groups.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
Surgical management by hysteroscopy of incomplete spontaneous abortions in patients intending to conceive again was not associated with more subsequent births or a better safety profile than vacuum aspiration. Moreover, operative hysteroscopy was not feasible in all cases.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02201732.
Topics: Pregnancy; Humans; Female; Adult; Abortion, Spontaneous; Vacuum Curettage; Single-Blind Method; Pregnancy, Ectopic; Hysteroscopy
PubMed: 37039805
DOI: 10.1001/jama.2023.3415 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Mar 2023To compare the analgesic effectiveness of the patient-controlled inhaled nitrous oxide (Entonox) with intravenous opioids (pethidine/midazolam) in reducing pain during... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
To compare the analgesic effectiveness of the patient-controlled inhaled nitrous oxide (Entonox) with intravenous opioids (pethidine/midazolam) in reducing pain during minor gynecological operative procedures, including manual vacuum aspiration (MVA), fractional curettage and dilatation and curettage. Patients undergoing minor gynecological procedures from August 2021 to December 2022 were randomized to receive nitrous oxide or intravenous pethidine (50-75 micrograms) plus midazolam (2 mg). Pain scores during and post-procedure, satisfaction level, and side effects were assessed and compared. A total of 106 patients met the inclusion criteria, including 53 in the pethidine/midazolam group and 53 in the nitrous oxide group. Baseline characteristics were comparable (-value > 0.05). Pain scores during, immediately and 30 min after procedures were not significantly different in two groups (4.94 ± 3.15, 2.74 ± 2.57, 1.58 ± 2.13 vs. 5.47 ± 2.80, 2.98 ± 2.70, 1.64 ± 2.70; -value: 0.174, 0.634, 0.889, for pethidine/midazolam vs. nitrous oxide group, respectively. Satisfaction scores were comparable in both groups (-value > 0.05). However, the rate of side effects was significantly lower in the nitrous oxide group (3.8% vs. 28.3%; -value 0.001). Additionally, the discharge scores showed a significantly faster recovery time in the nitrous oxide group at 60 and 90 min after the procedure; median (IQR): 10 (9-10) vs. 9 (8-10) and 10 (10-10) vs. 10 (8.5-10); -value 0.002 and 0.029, respectively). Nitrous oxide is as effective as pethidine/midazolam for pain relief in minor gynecological operative procedures but associated with significantly lower side effects and significantly faster recovery time.
Topics: Female; Humans; Midazolam; Nitrous Oxide; Meperidine; Pain; Analgesics
PubMed: 36984612
DOI: 10.3390/medicina59030611 -
Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters Dec 2023Although Pakistan's Essential Package of Health Services was recently updated to include therapeutic and post-abortion care, little is known about current health...
Although Pakistan's Essential Package of Health Services was recently updated to include therapeutic and post-abortion care, little is known about current health facility readiness for these services. This study assessed the availability of comprehensive abortion care, and readiness of health facilities to deliver these services, within the public sector in 12 districts of Pakistan. A facility inventory was completed in 2020-2021 using the WHO Service Availability and Readiness Assessment, with a newly developed abortion module. A composite readiness indicator was developed based on national clinical guidelines and previous studies. Just 8.4% of facilities reported offering therapeutic abortion, while 14.3% offered post-abortion care. Misoprostol (75.2%) was the most common method provided by facilities that offer therapeutic abortion, followed by vacuum aspiration (60.7%) and dilatation and curettage (D&C) (59%). Few facilities had all the readiness components required to deliver pharmacological or surgical therapeutic abortion, or post-abortion care (<1%), but readiness was higher in tertiary (22.2%) facilities. Readiness scores were lowest for "guidelines and personnel" (4.1%), and slightly higher for medicines and products (14.3-17.1%), equipment (16.3%) and laboratory services (7.4%). This assessment highlights the potential to increase the availability of comprehensive abortion care in Pakistan, particularly in primary care and in rural areas, to improve the readiness of health facilities to deliver these services, and to phase out non-recommended methods of abortion (D&C). The study also demonstrates the feasibility and utility of adding an abortion module to routine health facility assessments, which can inform efforts to strengthen sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Topics: Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Health Services Accessibility; Pakistan; Abortion, Induced; Health Facilities; World Health Organization
PubMed: 36897212
DOI: 10.1080/26410397.2023.2178265 -
Frontiers in Surgery 2023This study aims to evaluate the importance of the gestational age at diagnosis and the types of cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) for treatment outcomes and to identify the...
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to evaluate the importance of the gestational age at diagnosis and the types of cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) for treatment outcomes and to identify the optimal treatment based on both the gestational age at diagnosis and the CSP type.
METHODS
A retrospective cohort study included 223 pregnant women diagnosed with CSP at Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China, between 2014 and 2018. All CSP cases underwent ultrasound-guided vacuum aspiration followed by supplementary curettage. Adjuvant treatment modalities included intramuscular injection of systemic methotrexate, uterine artery embolization, and hysteroscopy before ultrasound-guided vacuum aspiration. Linear regression was used to determine the relationship between intraoperative blood loss and gestational age at diagnosis, CSP type, highest β-human chorionic gonadotropin level, and management procedures.
RESULTS
None of the patients required blood transfusions or hysterectomies. Patients presenting at <8, 8-10, and >10 weeks had median estimated blood loss of 5, 10, and 35 ml, respectively. Patients with type I CSP, type II CSP, and type III CSP had median blood loss of 5, 5 and 10 ml, respectively. Multivariate linear regression analysis demonstrated that the gestational age at diagnosis ( < 0.001) and type of CSP ( = 0.023) were independent predictors of intraoperative estimated blood loss. For type I CSP patients, ultrasound-guided vacuum aspiration followed by supplementary curettage alone was performed in 15 of 34 (44.1%) patients, including 12/27 (44.4%) diagnosed at <8 weeks, 2/6 (33.3%) at 8-10 weeks, and 1/1 for >10 weeks. In type II CSP patients, fewer cases were managed by ultrasound-guided vacuum aspiration followed by supplementary curettage alone as the gestational age at diagnosis increased [18/96 (18.8%) for <8 weeks, 7/41 (17.1%) for 8-10 weeks, none for >10 weeks]. Most type III CSP patients (41/45, 91.1%) needed treatments in addition to the ultrasound-guided vacuum aspiration regardless of the gestational age at diagnosis. All CSP patients were treated successfully and did not require readmission or further medical interventions.
CONCLUSION
Gestational age at diagnosis of CSP and its type show a strong correlation with estimated blood loss during ultrasound-guided vacuum aspiration. With careful management, CSPs may be treated at any gestational week, regardless of their type, with minimal intraoperative bleeding.
PubMed: 36874460
DOI: 10.3389/fsurg.2023.1055245 -
Journal of Gynecology Obstetrics and... Feb 2023There is still no consensus on a safe and efficient treatment modality for cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP), which is known to cause severe complications, such as...
OBJECTIVE
There is still no consensus on a safe and efficient treatment modality for cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP), which is known to cause severe complications, such as life-threatening hemorrhage. Suction curettage (SC) has been used as the first-line treatment for CSP with controversial outcomes. In this context, the objective of this study is to analyze the efficacy of SC in the treatment of CSP.
METHODS
The sample of this retrospective study consisted of 64 CSP patients treated using SC between 2012 and 2022. Patients' demographic and clinical variables, including the thickness of the myometrium at the lower uterine segment between the urinary bladder and cesarean scar, were obtained from their medical records. The study's primary outcome was determined as the success rate of SC. Accordingly, the patients were categorized into two groups: successful SC (Group 1) and unsuccessful SC (Group 2).
RESULTS
The success rate of SC was determined as 78.1%. The number of previous cesarean deliveries, gestational age, baseline beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) values, and endometrial thickness was significantly higher in Group 2 (p<0.05 for all), whereas the fetal cardiac activity and absence of an embryonic pole were significantly higher in Group 2 (p = 0.001 and p = 0.004, respectively). There was no significant difference between the groups in the thickness of the myometrium at the lower uterine segment (p = 0.890). The hemoglobin levels decreased significantly after SC in both Groups 1 and 2 (p<0.001 and p = 0.009, respectively). There was no significant difference between the groups in preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin values and the decrease in hemoglobin levels (p>0.05).
CONCLUSION
The study findings did not indicate any significant correlation between myometrial thickness at the lower uterine segment and the efficacy of SC in CSP patients. On the other hand, the number of cesarean deliveries, gestational age, baseline β-hCG values, endometrium thickness, fetal cardiac activity, and embryonic pole may be used to predict the outcome of SC in the treatment of CSP.
Topics: Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Vacuum Curettage; Retrospective Studies; Cicatrix; Pregnancy, Ectopic; Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human
PubMed: 36592889
DOI: 10.1016/j.jogoh.2022.102531 -
BMC Health Services Research Dec 2022In Malawi, abortion is only legal to save a pregnant woman's life. Treatment for complications after unsafe abortions has a massive impact on the already impoverished...
BACKGROUND
In Malawi, abortion is only legal to save a pregnant woman's life. Treatment for complications after unsafe abortions has a massive impact on the already impoverished health care system. Even though manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) and misoprostol are the recommended treatment options for incomplete abortion in the first trimester, surgical management using sharp curettage is still one of the primary treatment methods in Malawi. Misoprostol and MVA are safer and cheaper, whilst sharp curettage has more risk of complications such as perforation and bleeding and requires general anesthesia and a clinician. Currently, efforts are being made to increase the use of misoprostol in the treatment of incomplete abortions in Malawi. To achieve successful implementation of misoprostol, health care providers' perceptions on this matter are crucial.
METHODS
A qualitative approach was used to explore health care providers' perceptions of misoprostol for the treatment of incomplete abortion using semi-structured in-depth interviews. Ten health care providers were interviewed at one urban public hospital. Each interview lasted 45 min on average. Health care providers of different cadres were interviewed in March and April 2021, nine months after taking part in a training intervention on the use of misoprostol. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using 'Systematic Text Condensation'.
RESULTS
The health care providers reported many advantages with the increased use of misoprostol, such as reduced workload, less hospitalization, fewer infections, and task-shifting. Availability of the drug and benefits for the patients were also highlighted as important. However, some challenges were revealed, such as deciding who was eligible for the drug and treatment failure. For these reasons, some health care providers still choose surgical treatment as their primary method.
CONCLUSION
Findings in this study support the recommendation of increased use of misoprostol as a treatment for incomplete abortion in Malawi, as the health care providers interviewed see many advantages with the drug. To scale up its use, proper training and supervision are essential. A sustainable and predictable supply is needed to change clinical practice. Unsafe abortion is a major contributor to maternal mortality worldwide. Unsafe abortion is the termination of an unintended pregnancy by a person without the required skills or equipment, which might lead to serious complications. In Malawi, post-abortion complications are common, and the maternal mortality ratio is among the highest in the world. Retained products of conception, referred to as an incomplete abortion, are common after spontaneous miscarriages and unsafe induced abortions. There are several ways to treat incomplete abortion, and the drug misoprostol has been successful in the treatment of incomplete abortion in other low-income countries. This study explored perceptions among health care providers using misoprostol to treat incomplete abortions and whether the drug can be fully embraced by Malawian health care professionals. Health personnel at a Malawian hospital were interviewed individually regarding the use of the drug for treating incomplete abortions. This study revealed that health care providers interviewed are satisfied with the increased use of misoprostol. They highlighted several benefits, such as reduced workload and that it enabled task-shifting so that various hospital cadres could now treat patients with incomplete abortions. The health care workers also observed benefits for women treated with the drug compared to other treatments. The challenges mentioned were finding out who was eligible for the drug and drug failure. This study supports scaling up the use of misoprostol in the treatment of incomplete abortions in Malawi; the Ministry of Health and policymakers should support future interventions to increase its use.
Topics: Pregnancy; Humans; Female; Abortion, Incomplete; Misoprostol; Abortion, Spontaneous; Malawi; Abortion, Induced; Health Personnel; Hospitals, Public
PubMed: 36461125
DOI: 10.1186/s12913-022-08878-3 -
Fertility and Sterility Jan 2023To describe a simple adjunct treatment option, trophoblastic microcirculation occlusion (TMO), which could change subsequent high-risk electric vacuum aspiration in...
OBJECTIVE
To describe a simple adjunct treatment option, trophoblastic microcirculation occlusion (TMO), which could change subsequent high-risk electric vacuum aspiration in patients with an endogenous cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) into a routine conventional surgical procedure. Electric vacuum aspiration for the treatment of CSP may be associated with several significant complications, including hemorrhage and tissue remnants. Consequently, a second intervention, such as uterine artery embolization, resectoscopy, or methotrexate, may be required, thus complicating the surgical treatment of CSP.
DESIGN
We demonstrate the principle and detailed technique of TMO treatment using animations, video clips, and slides. The study was approved by the institutional review board of Hangzhou Women's Hospital.
SETTING
Tertiary maternity hospital.
PATIENT(S)
The video shows a 30-year-old woman with a 5-week endogenous CSP. The procedural steps were repeated in another 6 patients suffering from endogenous CSP (Table 1). Written informed consent was obtained from each patient.
INTERVENTION(S)
In patients with a CSP, the syncytiotrophoblastic cells erode the helicine arteries in the inner uterine myometrium. The cytotrophoblastic cells extend as villi tissue into the syncytiotrophoblast. Maternal blood enters the intervillous space between the cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast. The syncytiotrophoblast, cytotrophoblast, and intervillous space constitute the trophoblastic microcirculation, which subsequently becomes the main blood supply to the gestational sac (Fig. 1). During TMO treatment, the trophoblastic microcirculation is identified by contrast-enhanced ultrasound with the cubital vein injected with sulfur hexafluoride microbubbles (Bracco, Switzerland). A 21-gauge needle (200 mm long) was punctured vaginally into the uterine myometrium surrounding the syncytiotrophoblast at 3 different points, and a total of 8 mL sclerosant was injected directly to seal the trophoblastic microcirculation. Complete compression of the helicine arteries for trophoblastic blood supply is the key to TMO treatment (Fig. 2, see video interpretation for detailed information). A repeat contrast-enhanced ultrasound was performed after injection to confirm a significant reduction of blood flow in the trophoblast. An electric vacuum aspiration was performed 24 hours after TMO treatment to remove the products of conception completely. Surgical safety was enhanced by deep sedation and concurrent transabdominal ultrasound guidance. The levels of β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) were measured weekly until a nonpregnant level was achieved. A follow-up ultrasound then was performed to confirm that the treatment was complete.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)
The clinical value and feasibility of TMO treatment as an adjunct before high-risk electric vacuum aspiration for the management of endogenous CSP.
RESULT(S)
The TMO treatment was performed successfully in all 7 patients; the clinical outcomes are presented in Table 2. The TMO treatment significantly reduced the risk of hemorrhage during electric vacuum aspiration. No complications were detected perioperatively. Patients were discharged on day 1 postoperatively. Follow-up ultrasound, performed when the levels of β-hCG had fallen to normal, failed to identify any remnants of the uterine corpus. One patient achieved an intrauterine pregnancy 7 months postoperatively and gave birth to a live baby at 39 weeks of gestation via repeat cesarean section. No cesarean scar dehiscence was observed.
CONCLUSION(S)
Surgical abortion of an endogenous CSP, with a high risk of intraoperative hemorrhage, can be performed with minimal blood loss in a single electric vacuum aspiration when assisted by TMO treatment. This technique provides good results in terms of bleeding reduction that are comparable to those in conventional patients. The TMO treatment can be accomplished via ultrasound-guided needle puncture, a technique that is available widely in the practice of reproductive medicine with a reduced need for consumable resources. The use of a simple adjunct treatment option, TMO, expands the indications of electric vacuum aspiration. This sequential treatment allows for completion of clinical management without the need for uterine artery embolization, resectoscopy, or methotrexate, thus simplifying the originally complicated form of surgical treatment for CSP.
Topics: Pregnancy; Humans; Female; Adult; Trophoblasts; Methotrexate; Cesarean Section; Cicatrix; Vacuum Curettage; Microcirculation; Pregnancy, Ectopic; Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; Treatment Outcome; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 36456211
DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2022.10.009 -
Texas Heart Institute Journal Nov 2022
Topics: Humans; Female; Mustard Plant; Vacuum Curettage
PubMed: 36448943
DOI: 10.14503/THIJ-20-7506 -
International Journal of Gynaecology... Apr 2023Globally, 25% of pregnancies end up in induced abortion, the majority of which are unsafe. Abortion is safe when conducted according to WHO recommendations. The... (Review)
Review
Globally, 25% of pregnancies end up in induced abortion, the majority of which are unsafe. Abortion is safe when conducted according to WHO recommendations. The objective of the present study was to identify gaps in the data published on abortion and make recommendations to the Ministry of Health, Uganda. The search strategy included PubMed, Google Scholar articles (from October 2020 to May 2021) on unsafe abortion in Uganda, reviewed data from the Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Uganda (AOGU) members' baseline survey (2019), Health Management Information System (HMIS) summary data (2015-2016 to 2019-2020), and the Uganda Demographic and Heath Survey (DHS) report (2011, 2016). From the 200 articles and national health surveys identified, 37 articles and two national representative surveys met our criteria: prevalence, factors, estimating cost of induced abortion, and complications associated with safe and unsafe abortion in both low- and high-income countries. There are many unsafe abortions in restrictive environments. Abortion is one of the leading causes of maternal and morbidity. Physicians favor dilatation and curettage over manual vacuum aspiration and medical methods for the evacuation of retained products. Several gaps still exist in the published articles, HMIS data, and DHS data, leading to missed opportunities for data to inform policy and practice.
Topics: Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Uganda; Abortion, Induced; Surveys and Questionnaires; Health Surveys; Policy
PubMed: 36436881
DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.14588 -
International Journal of Hyperthermia :... 2022To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) combined with ultrasound-guided suction curettage in patients with type...
Analysis of the type of cesarean scar pregnancy impacted on the effectiveness and safety of high intensity focused ultrasound combined with ultrasound-guided suction curettage treatment.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) combined with ultrasound-guided suction curettage in patients with type I/II/III cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP).
METHODS
A total of 153 patients with CSP were enrolled and classified according to the type of CSP. All of them were treated by HIFU combined with ultrasound-guided suction curettage. When active uterine bleeding was observed after curettage, a Foley balloon was used for hemostasis by compression. Baseline characteristics, technical parameters of HIFU, intraoperative blood loss in suction curettage, the time for serum β-HCG to return to normal levels, reproductive outcomes, and adverse effects were recorded and analyzed.
RESULTS
152 patients completed one session of HIFU combined with suction curettage except one patient transferred to surgery. Total energy used for ablation and the time for serum β-HCG return to normal level in type II and III were significantly higher than type I ( < .05). The treatment time and sonication time of HIFU in type III were significantly longer than type I ( < .05). Vaginal bleeding after curettage and the rate of using Foley catheter balloon in type III was larger than type I and II.
CONCLUSIONS
HIFU combined with ultrasound-guided suction curettage is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with type I/II/III CSP and desire for fertility. Patients with type III CSP were more dependent on Foley catheter balloon compression therapy than the other two types after HIFU combined with curettage.
Topics: Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Vacuum Curettage; Cicatrix; Cesarean Section; Pregnancy, Ectopic; Ultrasonography, Interventional
PubMed: 36414236
DOI: 10.1080/02656736.2022.2107715