title: Expectant care versus surgical treatment for miscarriage.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Miscarriage is a common complication of early pregnancy that can have both medical and psychological consequences such as depression and anxiety. The need for routine surgical evacuation with miscarriage has been questioned because of potential complications such as cervical trauma, uterine perforation, hemorrhage, or infection.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the safety and effectiveness of expectant management versus surgical treatment for early pregnancy failure.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (9 February 2012), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane Library 2011, Issue 4 of 4), PubMed (2005 to 11 January 2012), POPLINE (inception to 11 January 2012), LILACS (2005 to 11 January 2012) and reference lists of retrieved studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized trials comparing expectant care and surgical treatment (vacuum aspiration or dilation and curettage) for miscarriage were eligible for inclusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two review authors assessed trial quality and extracted data. We contacted study authors for additional information. For dichotomous data, we calculated the Mantel-Haenszel risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). For continuous data, we computed the mean difference (MD) and 95% CI. We entered additional data such as medians into 'Other data' tables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We included seven trials with 1521 participants in this review. The expectant-care group was more likely to have an incomplete miscarriage by two weeks (RR 3.98; 95% CI 2.94 to 5.38) or by six to eight weeks (RR 2.56; 95% CI 1.15 to 5.69). The need for unplanned surgical treatment was greater for the expectant-care group (RR 7.35; 95% CI 5.04 to 10.72). The mean percentage needing surgical management in the expectant-care group was 28%, while 4% of the surgical-treatment group needed additional surgery. The expectant-care group had more days of bleeding (MD 1.59; 95% CI 0.74 to 2.45). Further, more of the expectant-care group needed transfusion (RR 6.45; 95% CI 1.21 to 34.42). The mean percentage needing blood transfusion was 1.4% for expectant care compared with none for surgical management. Results were mixed for pain. Diagnosis of infection was similar for the two groups (RR 0.63; 95% CI 0.36 to 1.12), as were results for various psychological outcomes. Pregnancy data were limited. Costs were lower for the expectant-care group (MD -499.10; 95% CI -613.04 to -385.16; in UK pounds sterling).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Expectant management led to a higher risk of incomplete miscarriage, need for unplanned (or additional) surgical emptying of the uterus, bleeding and need for transfusion. Risk of infection and psychological outcomes were similar for both groups. Costs were lower for expectant management. Given the lack of clear superiority of either approach, the woman's preference should be important in decision making. Pharmacological ('medical') management has added choices for women and their clinicians and has been examined in other reviews.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Sciences, FHI, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA. knanda@fhi360.org.
authors.forename: Kavita
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nanda
authors.forename: Laureen M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Grimes
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peloggia
authors.forename: Geeta
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nanda
mesh_terms: D000027:Abortion, Incomplete / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001510:Bed Rest; D004107:Dilatation and Curettage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014619:Vacuum Curettage; D057832:Watchful Waiting
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents