Audit of Ireland's first manual vacuum aspiration service

• Published in: International journal of gynecology and obstetrics 2023-10, Vol.163 (1), p.302-306
• Main Authors: Corcoran, A., Hayes‐Ryan, D., O'Dwyer, V., Cooley, S., Ramphul, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: manual vacuum aspiration; miscarriage; outpatient procedure; patient choice; termination of pregnancy
• ISSN: 0020-7292; 1879-3479
• DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.14836

Introduction Manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) is a safe and effective alternative option for the management of first‐trimester miscarriage, termination of pregnancy, or retained pregnancy tissue. Ireland's first MVA clinic was set up in the Rotunda Hospital in April 2020. Objective To identify the number of women who have undergone MVA since establishing our service, to assess the efficacy and safety of MVA in that service, and to develop local Irish studies that further support the safety of MVA, adding to the international body of evidence. Methods With the approval and assistance of the Clinical Audit Committee, we obtained a log of all patients who underwent MVA in the first 18 months of the service. We performed a retrospective electronic chart review using Maternal and Newborn Clinical Management System. We collected the data and preformed a descriptive analysis. Results In total, 86 women underwent MVA, 85 (98.8%) of which were successfully completed. There were no immediate procedural complications, inter‐hospital transfers, or emergency electric vacuum aspiration (EVA) required. We obtained an incomplete evacuation rate of 4.7% (n = 4). Conclusion We have demonstrated that the MVA service in the Rotunda Hospital is a safe, effective management option with advantages for both the patient and the healthcare system. We recommend consideration for provision of funding and resources to enable expansion of this service nationally in order to give women greater autonomy of choice in the management of early pregnancy complications and termination of pregnancy. Synopsis The results of this retrospective audit of a new MVA service in Ireland demonstrate that MVA is a safe and effective option for the management of miscarriage and pregnancy termination.