Gestational sac aspiration: a novel alternative to dilation and evacuation for management of early pregnancy failure.

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To explore the effectiveness (success, safety, and complications) of a novel technique of gestational sac aspiration in the management of early pregnancy failure as an alternative to dilation and evacuation (D&E) and conservative management.

DESIGN

Prospective historical cohort study comparing effectiveness of gestational sac aspiration (study group) to conservative management (control group) with follow-up until negative quantitative beta human chorionic gonadotropin testing is achieved (Canadian Task Force classification II-1).

SETTING

An infertility treatment center.

PATIENTS

Among 60 women with failed early pregnancies that were achieved by in vitro fertilization or intrauterine insemination, 20 underwent gestational sac aspiration, whereas 40 chose conservative management.

INTERVENTIONS

Gestational sac aspiration was done by transvaginal ultrasound-guided needle aspiration under conscious sedation. Aspirated tissue was sent for karyotyping. Both study and control (conservative management) groups received close follow-up with ultrasound and serial beta human chorionic gonadotropin measurements.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

There was no significant difference in age, infertility factor, or treatment between study and control groups. Mean gestational age was 8 versus 6 weeks in study and control groups, respectively (p < .05). One and 11 patients required D&E in the study and control groups, respectively (p < .05). Karyotyping was successful in all except one patient in the study group. Chromosomal abnormalities were found in 36% of products of conception. No significant complications occurred

CONCLUSION

Gestational sac aspiration is a simple and safe outpatient technique that is more effective than conservative management of early pregnancy failure and less invasive than D&E. Moreover, the technique provides a high probability of obtaining a noncontaminated adequate gestation tissue sample for chromosomal study.