RESUMO
Objectives: To compare the efficacy, safety and cost effectiveness of Manual Vacuum Aspiration [MVA] with dilatation and curettage [DNC] in the management of early pregnancy failure. Methods: One hundred patients of spontaneous abortion, incomplete or missed, with gestational age <12 weeks were included in the study. Using a Random Number Table, these patients were assigned to undergo either DNC or MVA. Results: The distribution of age, parity and gestational age was similar in both groups. The mean duration of procedure was significantly higher [p<0.0001] in DNC [8.98 +/- 2.64 minutes] as compared to 5.88 +/- 2.43 minutes in MVA. The duration of hospital stay was significantly lower [p<0.0001] in MVA group [3.48 +/- 1.2 hours] as compared to 7.42 +/- 1.93 minutes in DNC group. Similarly the cost of procedure was also significantly lower [p=0.0001] in MVA group [PKR 1410 +/- 243.4] compared to PKR 3460 +/- 908.24 in DNC group. Conclusion: MVA is as effective as conventional dilatation and curettage for treatment of early pregnancy failure while it causes less blood loss, is less time consuming, requires a shorter hospital stay and thus costs less. It does not require general anaesthesia and complication rate is less than dilatation and curettage. Keywords: manual vacuum aspiration, dilatation and curettage, early pregnancy failure