Hysteroscopic removal of retained products of conception following first trimester medical abortion

Abstract

Study Objective: To investigate the use of operative hysteroscopy instead of traditional curettage in women with retained products of conception (RPOC) following first trimester medical abortion, with the aim of reducing post-operative intrauterine adhesions. Design: Retrospective study. Setting: Gynecology department in a University affiliated hospital. Patients: All women treated by hysteroscopy for RPOC following first trimester medical abortion using the mifepristone-misoprostol protocol for pregnancy termination or the misoprostol protocol for early missed abortion from January 2013 to August 2016. Intervention: Operative hysteroscopy for removal of RPOC. Post-operative intrauterine adhesions were assessed by diagnostic office hysteroscopy after 6–8 weeks. Measurements and Main Results: 50 cases were identified. The mean time from medication administration to the operative hysteroscopy was 1.7 ± 0.7 months. Operative hysteroscopy with blunt use of the resectoscopic loop was used to remove all specimens, and all procedures were completed without intra-operative complications. Two patients (4.0%) were readmitted for fever. Pathology confirmed the presence of RPOC in 45 (90.0%) cases. On follow-up office hysteroscopy, a normal uterine cavity without evidence of intrauterine adhesions was seen in 29/29 (100%) women. Conclusion: Hysteroscopy for removal of RPOC following medical abortion is associated with low rates of complications and post-operative intrauterine adhesions. Keywords: abortion, hysteroscopy, intrauterine adhesions, retained products of conception