Suction evacuation of uterine content

What is it?

This is a procedure is used to remove pregnancy tissue if you had an incomplete or missed miscarriage.
The procedure is performed in an operating theatre under a general anaesthesia. After the widening of the cervix, a suction instrument is passed into the womb and its contents are removed.

Recovery

After the procedure you may experience some mild period like pains and bleeding that will taper off over the next several weeks.

What are the risks?

Whilst uncommon, sometimes complications can develop such as:

• Injury to the cervix: this may have implications for your future childbearing and cervical stitches may be required in your next pregnancy to prevent a miscarriage or preterm delivery.
• Infection of the womb, or fallopian tubes, requiring antibiotics.
• Bleeding, requiring a blood transfusion.
• Perforation of the uterus and possible damage to the bowel or bladder, possibly requiring further surgical procedures to rectify the problem.
• Removal of the womb lining which can lead to scarring within the womb (Asherman’s syndrome).
• Incomplete removal of pregnancy tissue.
• General risk of surgery such as lung collapse, chest infection, heart attack, stroke, blood clots in legs and lungs.