Hysteroscopic Resection Versus Manual Vacuum Aspiration for Early Pregnancy

Early pregnancy loss is when a nonviable intrauterine pregnancy is diagnosed on ultrasound prior to 12 weeks and 6 days of gestation and occurs in 10% of pregnancies. There are typically three treatment modalities: expectant management, medical management, or surgical management. Surgical management is 99% effective in comparison to expectant management (80% resolution within 8 weeks) and medical management (71-84%). Current standard surgical management includes manual vacuum aspiration or suction dilation and curettage with or without ultrasound guidance. Hysteroscopic resection of retained products of conception (RPOC) has been studied. A recent randomized control trial comparing this to vacuum curettage showed hysteroscopic resection of RPOC had an increase in completeness of removal of the RPOC and decreased need for additional treatment with either a second hysteroscopy or vacuum curettage. Although detailed in 1 case report and performed nationally, hysteroscopic resection in comparison to manual vacuum aspiration of early pregnancy loss has not been investigated. Potential benefits of hysteroscopic resection in comparison to manual vacuum aspiration include faster return to negative bHCG, decreased risk of intrauterine adhesion formation post-operatively, and decreased risk of retained products of conception. Furthermore, 50% of early pregnancy losses are due to fetal chromosomal abnormalities. Thus, diagnosis of a chromosomal abnormality can both provide information for the patient and allow for guidance of pregnancy treatment in the future. A retrospective chart review determined that obtaining fetal genetics is less likely to be contaminated with maternal tissue and is more likely to detect fetal chromosomes when the products of conception were biopsied hysteroscopically prior to suction dilation and curettage rather than when the pregnancy is terminated solely with suction dilation and curettage. Thus, hysteroscopic resection of early pregnancy loss may provide cytogenetic information that may not be obtained with a manual vacuum aspiration (similar technique as suction dilation and curettage, using manual suction instead of electric suction). This study aims to find out if hysteroscopic resection provides faster resolution of the pregnancy loss, creates less scar tissue, and improves genetic testing in comparison to manual vacuum aspiration.

Inclusion criteria

• Adult women age 18-55
• Ultrasound Diagnosis of Early Pregnancy Loss
• < 9 weeks gestational age as determined by ultrasound
• Singleton non-viable pregnancy
• Stated and willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study
• Provision of signed and dated informed consent form
• Chose a surgical method of management for fetal loss

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnancy of Unknown Location
• Current, viable pregnancy
• Prior medical treatment for this early pregnancy loss
• Contraindications to surgical management
• Active infection (i.e. fever, chills, fundal tenderness)
• Pre-existing coagulopathies