Comprehensive Guide to Surgical Management of Miscarriage : Procedures, Benefits & Risks
Dealing with a miscarriage can be sensitive for some people. It is often difficult to determine how best to manage one, with one of the options being Surgical Management of Miscarriage (SMM). Pregnancy tissue is removed from the uterus, under general anesthesia, in a type of surgery called SMM. For individuals who would rather not wait for a natural miscarriage, surgical abortion is highly recommended.
Benefits of Surgical Abortion:
- Preparation and support become easier as the procedure is planned.
- Since the procedure is done under anesthesia, the patient does not experience any discomfort.
- The patient is likely to experience less cramping or bleeding when compared with the natural process of miscarrying.
- Due to the use of ultrasound, SMM is much less likely to require additional procedures for “safety net” thinks, so the chances of needing more procedures are minimized.
Possible Risks:
- Can easily be treated with antibiotics.
- As the tissue is being removed, there’s the possibility of new blood vessels being created. Excessive blood loss for three weeks may indicate there is a retention of tissue.
- An extremely rare case of injury to the uterus or cervix.
- Asherman’s Syndrome is left undiagnosed so there’s a slight chance but it is unlikely to have an effect on fertility.
Ready Yourself for the Procedure:
- Fasting is mandatory; no food consumption is allowed for a few hours ahead of the surgery and water intake is permitted only two hours prior.
- Patients are required to clean their body and remove all nail polish, makeup, and jewelry before coming to the hospital.
- Once the patient has arrived at the hospital, the medical staff will perform necessary health checks, provide medication for cervical softening, and walk you through the process step by step.
- The whole surgery takes around 15-30 minutes, followed, for a short time, by recovery under supervision after which the patient is discharged.
