Methods for managing miscarriage: a network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Miscarriage, defined as the spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before 24 weeks' gestation, is common with approximately 25% of women experiencing a miscarriage in their lifetime. An estimated 15% of pregnancies end in miscarriage. Miscarriage can lead to serious morbidity, including haemorrhage, infection, and even death, particularly in settings without adequate healthcare provision. Early miscarriages occur during the first 14 weeks of pregnancy, and can be managed expectantly, medically or surgically. However, there is uncertainty about the relative effectiveness and risks of each option. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the relative effectiveness and safety profiles for the different management methods for early miscarriage, and to provide rankings of the available methods according to their effectiveness, safety, and side-effect profile using a network meta-analysis. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth's Trials Register (9 February 2021), ClinicalTrials.gov and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) (12 February 2021), and reference lists of retrieved studies. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included all randomised controlled trials assessing the effectiveness or safety of methods for miscarriage management. Early miscarriage was defined as less than or equal to 14 weeks of gestation, and included missed and incomplete miscarriage. Management of late miscarriages after 14 weeks of gestation (often referred to as intrauterine fetal deaths) was not eligible for inclusion in the review. Cluster- and quasi-randomised trials were eligible for inclusion. Randomised trials published only as abstracts were eligible if sufficient information could be retrieved. We excluded non-randomised trials. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: At least three review authors independently assessed the trials for inclusion and risk of bias, extracted data and checked them for accuracy. We estimated the relative effects and rankings for the primary outcomes of complete miscarriage and composite outcome of death or serious complications. The certainty of evidence was assessed using GRADE. Relative effects for the primary outcomes are reported subgrouped by the type of miscarriage (incomplete and missed miscarriage). We also performed pairwise meta-analyses and network meta-analysis to determine the relative effects and rankings of all available methods. MAIN RESULTS: Our network meta-analysis included 78 randomised trials involving 17,795 women from 37 countries. Most trials (71/78) were conducted in hospital settings and included women with missed or incomplete miscarriage. Across 158 trial arms, the following methods were used: 51 trial arms (33%) used misoprostol; 50 (32%) used suction aspiration; 26 (16%) used expectant management or placebo; 17 (11%) used dilatation and curettage; 11 (6%) used mifepristone plus misoprostol; and three (2%) used suction aspiration plus cervical preparation. Of these 78 studies, 71 (90%) contributed data in a usable form for meta-analysis. Complete miscarriage Based on the relative effects from the network meta-analysis of 59 trials (12,591 women), we found that five methods may be more effective than expectant management or placebo for achieving a complete miscarriage: · suction aspiration after cervical preparation (risk ratio (RR) 2.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.41 to 3.20, low-certainty evidence), · dilatation and curettage (RR 1.49, 95% CI 1.26 to 1.75, low-certainty evidence), · suction aspiration (RR 1.44, 95% CI 1.29 to 1.62, low-certainty evidence), · mifepristone plus misoprostol (RR 1.42, 95% CI 1.22 to 1.66, moderate-certainty evidence), · misoprostol (RR 1.30, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.46, low-certainty evidence). The highest ranked surgical method was suction aspiration after cervical preparation. The highest ranked non-surgical treatment was mifepristone plus misoprostol. All surgical methods were ranked higher than medical methods, which in turn ranked above expectant management or placebo. Composite outcome of death and serious complications Based on the relative effects from the network meta-analysis of 35 trials (8161 women), we found that four methods with available data were compatible with a wide range of treatment effects compared with expectant management or placebo: · dilatation and curettage (RR 0.43, 95% CI 0.17 to 1.06, low-certainty evidence), · suction aspiration (RR 0.55, 95% CI 0.23 to 1.32, low-certainty evidence), · misoprostol (RR 0.50, 95% CI 0.22 to 1.15, low-certainty evidence), · mifepristone plus misoprostol (RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.31 to 1.84, low-certainty evidence). Importantly, no deaths were reported in these studies, thus this composite outcome was entirely composed of serious complications, including blood transfusions, uterine perforations, hysterectomies, and intensive care unit admissions. Expectant management and placebo ranked the lowest when compared with alternative treatment interventions. Subgroup analyses by type of miscarriage (missed or incomplete) agreed with the overall analysis in that surgical methods were the most effective treatment, followed by medical methods and then expectant management or placebo, but there are possible subgroup differences in the effectiveness of the available methods.  AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Based on relative effects from the network meta-analysis, all surgical and medical methods for managing a miscarriage may be more effective than expectant management or placebo. Surgical methods were ranked highest for managing a miscarriage, followed by medical methods, which in turn ranked above expectant management or placebo. Expectant management or placebo had the highest chance of serious complications, including the need for unplanned or emergency surgery. A subgroup analysis showed that surgical and medical methods may be more beneficial in women with missed miscarriage compared to women with incomplete miscarriage. Since type of miscarriage (missed and incomplete) appears to be a source of inconsistency and heterogeneity within these data, we acknowledge that the main network meta-analysis may be unreliable. However, we plan to explore this further in future updates and consider the primary analysis as separate networks for missed and incomplete miscarriage.

Increased Fetal Chromosome Detection with the Use of Operative Hysteroscopy During Evacuation of Products of Conception for Diagnosed Miscarriage.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine whether incorporation of operative hysteroscopy with biopsy of products of conception, in conjunction with a suction curettage for a first trimester missed abortion, affected the rate of maternal cell contamination when chromosomal analysis was performed on the products of conception, and to determine the rates of retained products of conception with incorporation of hysteroscopy after suction curettage. DESIGN: Retrospective chart study. SETTING: Private, minimally invasive surgery and infertility practice with academic-community hospital affiliation. PATIENTS: Infertility patients undergoing evacuation of products of conception for documented first trimester miscarriages between 2006 and 2017. INTERVENTIONS: Suction curettage or hysteroscopic biopsy and suction curettage, followed by chromosomal analysis of products of conception for determination of fetal genetics. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: A total of 264 charts were analyzed. Patients were categorized into 2 groups based on surgical collection of products of conception: group 1 (N = 174), suction curettage only, and group 2 (N = 90), a single procedure consisting of operative hysteroscopy with biopsy of products of conception followed by suction curettage and then diagnostic hysteroscopy to look for retained products. Data for chromosome detection and retained products of conception were available for 246 and 239 patients, respectively. No significant differences were detected between the groups for age, body mass index, ethnicity, gravida, parity, primary infertility, secondary infertility, spontaneous conception, single or multiple gestation, and surgical complications. Fetal chromosome detection was significantly higher without maternal contamination in group 2 (88.5%) compared with group 1 (64.8%) (p < .001). There was no significant between-group difference in postoperative retained products of conception. CONCLUSION: Obtaining fetal genetics can be useful when planning for a future successful pregnancy. The addition of operative hysteroscopy to biopsy the gestational sac, chorionic villi, and/or fetus significantly decreases the risk of maternal contamination and increases the ability to detect fetal chromosomes for genetic analysis without an increased risk of surgical complications. Despite the low risk of surgical complications, immediate second-look hysteroscopy after the completion of suction evacuation does not reduce the risk of postoperative retained products of conception.

Postpartum retained products of conception: Retrospective analysis of the association with third stage of labor placental complications.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the prevalence of postpartum retained products of conception (RPOC) among parturients with a history of third stage of labor placental complications and parturients without those complications. STUDY DESIGN: All women operated for postpartum RPOC following vaginal delivery by hysteroscopy or suction curettage between January 2013 and December 2017 were included in the study. Their medical records were reviewed for the occurrence of third stage of labor placental complications (including early postpartum hemorrhage treated with uterotonics, manual separation of the placenta, and revision of the uterine cavity for removal of cotyledons). RESULTS: The study cohort included 172 women operated for postpartum RPOC following vaginal delivery by operative hysteroscopy (143 cases, 83.1%) or by suction curettage (29 cases, 16.9%). Third stage of labor placental complications were reported in 65 (37.8%) cases, while 107 (62.2%) women had an uncomplicated third stage of labor. When considering all vaginal deliveries in our institution during the study period, the risk for RPOC was significantly higher among parturients with third stage of labor placental complications compared to those with an uneventful third stage of labor (3.7% versus 0.3%, p < 0.001, Odds ratio = 12.5, 95% confidence interval 9.0-17.3). CONCLUSION: Postpartum RPOC following vaginal delivery were more common in parturients with third stage of labor placental complications. However, the majority of postpartum RPOC cases were diagnosed in women reported to have an uncomplicated third stage of labor. Thus, focused postpartum ultrasound follow-up of women considered at risk for RPOC will not identify all cases.

Retained products of conception: What is the risk for recurrence on subsequent pregnancies?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether women who were surgically treated for retained products of conception (RPOC) by either suction curettage or hysteroscopy are at risk for recurrent RPOC on their subsequent pregnancies. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of 442 women surgically treated for RPOC following delivery or abortion by suction curettage (N = 63, 14.3%) or hysteroscopy (N = 379, 85.7%). Information on subsequent pregnancies and their outcomes was available for 161 (36.4%) women. RESULTS: One or more live births were reported for 150 (93.2%) of the women for whom information on subsequent pregnancies was available. The overall rate of spontaneous abortions was 31/161 (19.3%). Recurrent RPOC were diagnosed in 25 (15.5%) cases, while third stage of labor placental problems (including retained placenta or cotyledons and placenta accreta) were found in 44 (27.3%) cases. Recurrent RPOC was associated with treatment by suction curettage compared with hysteroscopy for the initial RPOC on multivariate logistic regression analysis (Odds Ratio [OR] = 3.6, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]1.3-10.5, p = 0.01) and with the initial RPOC occurring after delivery compared with after abortion (OR = 8.4, 95%CI 1.8-39.5, p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: Women treated for RPOC are at risk for recurrent RPOC and for third stage of labor placental problems on their subsequent pregnancies, especially those who had been managed by suction curettage in comparison with operative hysteroscopy. Clinical and ultrasound follow-up in the early and late postpartum period should be considered in women with a history of RPOC.

Vabrasio is a reliable test to rule out endometrial cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Endometrial cancer is the most common gynaecological cancer in Denmark, and its incidence peaks in the postmenopausal years. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of vacuum aspirator (vabrasio) for the detection of endometrial cancer in terms of sensitivity, specificity and predictive value. METHODS: A cohort counting 503 women who had vabrasio was evaluated retrospectively. The women included were consecutive patients who had received vabrasio at the Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics at Herning Hospital, Denmark, during a two-year period. They were identified by searching the hospital database for the International Classification of Diseases, tenth version (ICD-10) code for vabrasio. RESULTS: The indications for vabrasio were postmenopausal bleeding (45%), meno/metrorrhagia (43%) and thickened endometrium/polyp (6%). The first evaluation by vabrasio was normal in 381 women (76%), insufficient in 83 women (17%), 22 (4%) had endometrial cancer and 17 (3%) had another non-malignant diagnosis. The first evaluation for cancer with vabrasio had a sensitivity of 81%, a specificity of 100% and predictive values of 100% (positive) and 99% (negative). CONCLUSION: Vabrasio has a good diagnostic reliability with respect to endometrial cancer, but has some shortcomings due to insufficient sampling for diagnosis. FUNDING: none. TRIAL REGISTRATION: not relevant. Danish Data Protection Agency: case no.: 1-16-02-601-14.

[Utility of hCG dosage in the management of gestational trophoblastic diseases]. / Intérêt du dosage de l'hormone chorionique gonadotrope dans les maladies trophoblastiques gestationnelles.

Measurement of hCG remains today central for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of gestational trophoblastic diseases (GTD). In order to evaluate this contribution, we conducted a prospective cohort study in the Service of high-risk pregnancy of Rabat Maternity Les Orangers and the Laboratory of Rabat Military Teaching Hospital Mohammed V over a period of eighteen months. 35 patients were included. The hCG assay was determined by electrochemiluminescence. The general frequency of the GTD is of 0.33/100 childbirth. The average age of our patients was 30.5 years. 26 patients had hCG level abnormal and higher than 200 000 UI/mL when diagnosed with GTD; 34 patients had simple endo-uterine aspiration and 1 a chemotherapy. Among 34 patients, 25 (73.5%) had a favourable evolution characterized by normal hCG level within 3 to 13 weeks and complete remission. Serum hCG remained stable and negative in all these patients with a follow-up of 18 months. 9 patients had unfavourable evolution characterized by reaxent after negativation or stagnation of hCG levels. A rigorous monitoring of hCG levels during treatment and follow-up is essential to improve forecast of these diseases.

The need for repeat evacuation of retained products of conception: how common is it?

Evacuation of retained products of conception with suction curettage is a widely used method for the management of missed miscarriage, incomplete miscarriage and termination of pregnancy. This procedure carries a risk of incomplete evacuation, which may lead to a further repeat evacuation. There are limited data on the incidence of repeat evacuation for suspected retained products. We undertook a retrospective audit on patients who underwent suction curettage for retained products of conception between January 2006 and February 2008, in order to evaluate the rate of repeat evacuation. Our study showed 3.1% (17 of 541) of patients underwent a repeat evacuation for suspected retained products. Suction curettage remains a safe and common procedure, however, it is important to minimise the recurrence of repeat evacuations through the use of medical management, improved training and local guidelines. This in turn should lower the risk of further complications associated with a surgical procedure.

Initial presenting features in gestational trophoblastic neoplasia: does a decade make a difference?

OBJECTIVE: To compare the initial clinical presentation of patients who were treated at our center for gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) between 1996 and 1998 and between 2006 and 2008. STUDY DESIGN: All patients seen at Weston Park Hospitalfor GTN (excluding placental site trophoblastic tumor [PSTT]) between 1996 and 1998 (total, 79) and between 2006 and 2008 (total, 139) were identified and their medical records reviewed. Features from when they first presented with gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD), excluding PSTT, were recorded. During those time periods 1,391 and 1,623 patients, respectively, were registered at our center with GTD. RESULTS: The following results were noted: abnormal vaginal bleeding remains the most common presentation; the proportion of abnormal ultrasound scans at initial diagnosis has risen from 1% to 12%; the mean gestational age of the antecedent pregnancy has dropped from 11.3 to 10.1 weeks; the mean number of evacuations has fallen from 1.9 to 1.2, and the proportion of patients having 2 evacuations has more than halved; and the proportion of patients presenting with GTD requiring chemotherapy for GTN was 4.2% (59 of 1,391) for 1996-1998 and 6.7% (109 of 1,623) for 2006-2008. CONCLUSION: An improvement in ultrasound technology and expertise in early pregnancy is likely to have contributed to a trend toward a lower gestational age at diagnosis of GTD. We noted a major shift in practice towards a higher threshold for repeat evacuations and an increased proportion of patients with GTN receiving chemotherapy.

Influence of hydatidiform mole follow-up setting on postmolar gestational trophoblastic neoplasia outcomes: a cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the influence of hydatidiform mole (HM) management setting (reference center versus other institutions) on gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) outcomes. METHODS: This cohort study included 270 HM patients attending Botucatu Trophoblastic Diseases Center (BTDC, São Paulo State University, Brazil) between January 1990 and December 2009 (204 undergoing evacuation and entire postmolar follow-up at BTDC and 66 from other institutions [OIs]). GTN characteristics and outcomes were analyzed and compared according to HM management setting. The confounding variables assessed included age, gravidity, parity, number of abortions and HM type (complete or partial). Postmolar GTN outcomes were compared using Mann-Whitney's test, chi2 test or Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Postmolar GTN occurred in 34 (34/204 = 16.7%) BTDC patients and in 27 (27/66 = 40.9%) of those initially treated in other institutions. BTDC patients showed lower metastasis rate (5.8% vs. 48%, p = 0.003) and lower median FIGO (2002) score (2.00 [1.00, 3.00] vs. 4.00 [2.00, 7.00], p = 0.003]. Multiagent chemotherapy to treat postmolar GTN was required in 2 BTDC cases (5.9%) and in 8 OI cases (29.6%) (p = 0.017). Median time interval between molar evacuation and chemotherapy onset was shorter among BTDC patients (7.0 [6.0, 10.0] vs. 10.0 [7.0, 16.0], p = 0.040). CONCLUSION: BTDC patients showed GTN characteristics indicative of better prognosis. This underscores the importance of GTD specialist centers.

Patient characteristics and service trends following abortion legalization in Mexico City, 2007-10.

Legal abortion services have been available in public and private health facilities in Mexico City since April 2007 for pregnancies of up to 12 weeks gestation. As of January 2011, more than 50,000 procedures have been performed by Ministry of Health hospitals and clinics. We researched trends in service users' characteristics, types of procedures performed, post-procedure complications, repeat abortions, and postabortion uptake of contraception in 15 designated hospitals from April 2007 to March 2010. The trend in procedures has been toward more medication and manual vacuum aspiration abortions and fewer done through dilation and curettage. Percentages of post-procedure complications and repeat abortions remain low (2.3 and 0.9 percent, respectively). Uptake of postabortion contraception has increased over time; 85 percent of women selected a method in 2009-10, compared with 73 percent in 2007-08. Our findings indicate that the Ministry of Health's program provides safe services that contribute to the prevention of repeat unintended pregnancies.

Potential pathogens in the lower genital tract at manual vacuum aspiration for incomplete abortion in Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the carriage rates of potential pathogens in the lower genital tract and factors associated with colonization among women with incomplete abortion. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: The Manual Vacuum Aspiration room of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana. SUBJECTS: Two hundred women undergoing Manual Vacuum Aspiration at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. METHODS: Eligible patients were screened for the presence of organisms in the lower genital tract by microscopy and culture of high vaginal and endocervical swabs. RESULTS: Nearly two-thirds of the patients (64.2%) had potential pathogens in the lower genital tract. Bacterial vaginosis alone was present in 47% and a combination of bacterial vaginosis and Candida albicans was present in 17.2%. Residence in an urban slum showed a significant association with the presence of potential pathogens (Odds ratio 2.6; p-value 0.04). CONCLUSION: Organisms responsible for bacterial vaginosis were the most frequently isolated potential pathogens in the cervical canal of patients with incomplete abortion at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. Management of these patients should therefore include antibiotic prophylaxis against bacterial vaginosis.

Management of incomplete abortion with manual vacuum aspiration in comparison to sharp metallic curette in an Ethiopian setting.

This institution based case control study emanated from the fact that manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) has been recently introduced in Ethiopia and Gandhi Memorial hospital is currently serving as the pioneering centre. Abortion is an important everyday medicolegal, social, political and public health issue. The objectives of the study were to focus on abortion issues, to show that MVA is alternative instrument applicable in our setting and to highlight some of the determinants that can influence the choice of instruments in the management of incomplete abortions of less than 12 weeks of gestation. A total of 1896 patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria underwent evacuation and curettage with MVA and SMC during the study period. The main considered variables included socio-demographic characteristics, service-providers, complications in relation to operators and method of surgery, duration of the surgery, patient pain evaluation and uterine factors. MVA is found to be equally safe, effective, simple and fast set of instruments which can be employed in the management of incomplete abortions. Integration of MVA in the medical training is recommended as it is a measure which can greatly contribute towards the reduction of maternal morbidity and mortality especially in a developing country like ours where resources are scare and alternatives are quite limited.

PIP: This institution-based case-control study emanated from the fact that manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) has been recently introduced in Ethiopia and Gandhi Memorial hospital is currently serving as the pioneering center. Abortion is an important medicolegal, social, political, and public health issue. The objectives of the study were to focus on abortion issues, to show that MVA is an alternative procedure applicable in the authors' setting, and to highlight some of the determinants that can influence the choice of procedure in the management of incomplete abortions of less than 12 weeks gestation. A total of 1896 patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria underwent MVA or sharp metallic curettage during the study period. The main variables considered included sociodemographic characteristics, service providers, complications in relation to operators and method of surgery, duration of the surgery, patient pain evaluation, and uterine factors. MVA was found to be equally safe, effective, simple, and fast in the management of incomplete abortions. Integration of MVA in the medical training is recommended, as it is a measure which can greatly contribute towards the reduction of maternal morbidity and mortality especially in a developing country like the authors', where resources are scare and alternatives are quite limited.

Trends in the evaluation of abnormal uterine bleedings with the introduction of manual vacuum aspiration.

In a 12-month period, a total of 507 diagnostic curettages were performed with manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) and sharp metallic curettage (SMC), at the Gandhi Memorial Hospital (GMH). Of these, 406(80.1%) and 101(19.9%) were managed with MVA and SMC, respectively. The bulk of the study population were married, of urban residence, paying and treated on ambulatory basis in the minor operation theater without anaesthesia and analgesia. There were significant differences in the gravidity, parity and abortion frequency of the groups (P < 0.05). The mean ages for MVA and SMC were 35.9 years +/- SD 7.6 years and 36.5 years +/- SD 8.5, years respectively (P < 0.05). The majority of the study population that were subjected for histopathological evaluation of the corpus uteri were in the age group of 35-39 years and accounted for 137 (27.0%) with a cumulative frequency of 66.1%. The service providers handled most of the cases with MVA (P > 0.05) and the indications were mainly for abnormal uterine bleeding and endometrial dating. The histological yields were 97.0% for MVA and 80.2% for SMC. The adequacy of the specimen for MVA and SMC were 0.95 and 0.78, respectively. Even if inadequate and non-conclusive are merged together, the adequacy of the specimen would still be 0.91 and 0.74 for MVA and SMC respectively, maintaining the same proportion. Coincidentally, the diagnostic accuracy for endometrial polyp and also for endometrial carcinoma were 0.7 for MVA and 0.3 for SMC. Our results are similar to that of other researchers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)