Comparison of procedure time between manual and electric vacuum aspiration for pregnancy termination between 10-14 weeks: A randomized trial

Abstract

ObjectiveTo measure the difference in procedure time between manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) and electric vacuum aspiration (EVA) during abortion procedures between 10 0/7 and 13 6/7 weeks gestation. Study DesignWe conducted a 1:1 randomized trial of individuals undergoing an abortion procedure between 10 0/7 and 13 6/7 weeks to MVA or EVA. Procedure time was the primary outcome. We performed an intention-to-treat analysis. A total of 132 patients (66 per arm) were needed to identify a 2-minute difference in time with 90% power and an alpha of 0.05. Given the non-parametric distribution of procedure times, we used Mann-Whitney U test to assess for differences in median procedure times. ResultsWe randomized 146 participants; 74 to MVA and 72 to EVA. Median procedure times were similar between the 2 groups; EVA 2.4 minutes (range 0.9–6.9 min) and MVA 2.6 minutes (range 1.1–9.0 min, p = 0.12). When stratified by gestational age, EVA between 12 0/7 and 13 6/7 weeks had a shorter median procedure time compared to MVA (2.5 min, range 1.4–6.9 min vs. 3.5 min range 1.7–9.0), respectively (p = 0.005). One conversion occurred from MVA to EVA at 13 weeks. ConclusionWe found no difference in procedure time between MVA and EVA between 10 0/7 and 13 6/7 weeks gestation. MVA does take 1 minute longer than EVA when performed between 12 0/7-13 6/7 weeks; however, this difference is not likely be clinically significant. ImplicationsProcedure times are similar for manual and electric vacuum aspiration for uterine evacuation between 10 and 14 weeks and the rate of conversion is low.