The effect of suction curettage on the visualization, operative time, fluid deficit, and histopathological diagnosis among perimenopausal women with abnormal uterine bleeding and unprepared endometrium for operative hysteroscopy: A single-center rand

INTRODUCTION: Hysteroscopy is the gold standard procedure for the evaluation and diagnosis of intrauterine pathologies. The optimal time to do hysteroscopy is during the proliferative phase. However, for women with irregular bleeding, the optimal time is unpredictable. Besides pharmacological means, mechanical endometrial preparation could be done. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of suction curettage on visualization, operative time, fluid deficit, and histopathologic diagnosis among perimenopausal women with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) and unprepared endometrium prior to operative hysteroscopy. METHODOLOGY: Thirty-four (34) perimenopausal women admitted for AUB with unprepared endometrium for operative hysteroscopy who consented to participate were recruited and randomly divided into two groups: 18 women had suction curettage done prior to operative hysteroscopy and 16 women had operative hysteroscopy done alone. The following data were obtained for each group: (1) improvement in clarity (i.e., visualization of fundus and both tubal ostia), (2) operative time from entry to withdrawal of the resectoscope (measured in minutes), (3) fluid deficit, and (4) final histopathological diagnosis. P <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Women who underwent suction curettage prior to operative hysteroscopy had improved visualization (72.2%, P < 0.001), shorter operative time (29.06 ± 7.06 min vs. 35.5 ± 7.2 min, P = 0.013), no difference in fluid deficit ( P = 0.276), and the histopathologic diagnosis ( P = 0.470). CONCLUSION: Suction curettage prior to operative hysteroscopy among perimenopausal women with AUB and unprepared endometrium improved visualization and shortened operative time without affecting fluid deficit and histopathologic diagnosis.