Introduction of the dilation and evacuation procedure for second-trimester abortion in Vietnam using manual vacuum aspiration and buccal misoprostol.

BACKGROUND: The dilation and evacuation (D&E) procedure was modified for use in a low-resource setting where access to electric vacuum aspiration is limited.
METHOD: In this demonstration project, buccal misoprostol is used for cervical preparation, followed by evacuation using manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) and forceps. Senior physicians at the Hanoi Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital were trained in D&E and subsequently conducted 439 D&E procedures.
RESULTS: The primary outcomes were efficacy and safety. Secondary outcome measures include efficacy of buccal misoprostol for cervical preparation prior to D&E and the feasibility of MVA for use in the D&E procedure.
CONCLUSION: Successful abortion took place in 100% of the cases. Three major complications occurred. This procedure may be appropriate in other low-resource settings lacking safe, effective abortion services in the second trimester.