VACUUM CURETTAGE BY THE VABRA METHOD - A SIMPLE PROCEDURE FOR ENDOMETRIAL DIAGNOSIS

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 61  (4) , 373-376
Abstract
Of 332 patients in whom endometrial biopsy was considered to be indicated, vacuum curettage by the Vabra method could be performed on 296 (89%, age range 23-71 yr, mean 45.7) in all cases as an outpatient procedure without anesthesia. Material sufficient for histological diagnosis was obtained in 276 (93.3%), 7 (2.4%) of whom had endometrial cancer, 14 (4.7%) adenomatous hyperplasia and 29 (9.8%) cystic hyperplasia. Of the 20 patients in whom the curettings could not be assessed, subsequent conventional curettage showed postmenopausal mucosa in 12 cases, endometrial polyps in 4 and atrophic mucosa due to the contraceptive pill in 4. Moderate and severe pain was experienced by 47 (15.8%) and 7 (2.3%) patients, respectively, and 2 (0.6%) had a vasovagal reaction. There was 1 case (0.3%) of endometritis and 6 (2%) of postoperative bleeding. During a follow up period of 1-5.5 (mean 2.4) yr, 16 patients developed bleeding again, but repeated vacuum curettage disclosed benign conditions in all, with no endometrial cancer apart from the cases diagnosed primarily. Vacuum curettage is a quick, simple and cheap method for histological diagnosis of endometrial tissue. It does not require anesthesia, patient acceptability is high, and reliability satisfactory.

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