Comparison of pain and time of procedures with two first-trimester abortion techniques performed by residents and faculty

OBJECTIVES: We compared pain perception and procedure time in abortions per formed by residents and faculty using a manual vacuum aspirator and electri c vacuum curettage devices. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a randomized trial of 114 women undergoing first -trimester abortions. Patients assessed the level of pain with visual analo g scales. RESULTS: The mean procedure times were 5.7 and 6.9 minutes, respectively, w ith electric vacuum curettage and manual vacuum aspirator. Faculty took les s time than residents to perform both procedures. Patients reported a highe r pain level with cervical dilatation before resident electric vacuum curet tage procedures. Patients undergoing electric vacuum curettage thought that the procedure noise increased their pain. CONCLUSIONS: First-trimester abortion procedures can be performed more quic kly by experienced surgeons. The procedure time for the manual vacuum aspir ator is greater than that for the electric vacuum curettage. Patient pain p erception with aspiration by these two techniques is not different. The lev el of pain after aspiration did not vary significantly in patients who had abortions performed by residents or faculty.