ADOPTION OF MANUAL VACUUM ASPIRATION FOR TREATMENT OF INCOMPLETE ABORTION REDUCES COSTS AND DURATION OF PATIENTS HOSPITAL STAY IN AN URBAN AREA OF NORTHEASTERN BRAZIL

Introduction In most developed countries vacuum aspiration has been sh own to be safer and less costly than sharp curettage (SC) for uterine evacuation. In many of the developing countries, including Brazil, sha rp curettage (SC) is the most commonly used technique for treating cas es of incomplete abortion admitted to hospital. The procedure often in volves light to heavy sedation for pain control and an overnight hospi tal stay for patient recuperation and monitoring. Two hypotheses are e xamined: the first, that the use of manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) - a variation of the vacuum aspiration, would be less costly than SC for the treatment of cases of incomplete abortion admitted to hospital; an d the second, that the treatment of incomplete abortion with MVA would substantially reduce the length of hospital stay. Methodology Thirty women with diagnosis of first trimester incomplete abortion were rando mly allocated to the SC or MVA group. Rapid-assessment data collection techniques were used to identify factors that contributed to cost red uction and hospital stay. Results and Conclusion The results of the st udy show that overall, patients treated for incomplete abortion with M VA spent 77% less lime in the hospital and consumed 41% fewer resource s than similarly diagnosed patients treated with SC. Recommendations a re made as to the need of certain changes in patient management. Parti cularly necessary is information regarding cultural perception and con cepts of abortion treatment.