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Biomedical subjects

R C Henshaw

Publications and source records attributed to R C Henshaw.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Medical abortion or vacuum aspiration? Two year follow up of a patient preference trial.

OBJECTIVE: To describe and compare health outcomes two years after medical abortion or vacuum aspiration in women recruited into a patient preference trial during 1990 to 1991. DESIGN: Women recruited to the original, partially randomised study were contacted for assessment using a structured interview. SETTING: Grampian region of Scotland, UK. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and forty women who had participated in a partially randomised study of first trimester abortion two years previously. INTERVENTION: Vacuum aspiration or medical abortion using mifepristone and gemeprost. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Long-term general, reproductive and psychological health; acceptability of procedure; perceived value of choice of method of termination. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between women who had undergone medical abortion or vacuum aspiration two years previously in general, reproductive or psychological health. Almost all women placed a high value on the provision of choice of method of termination. There was a significant difference in perception of long term procedure acceptability among women who had been randomised to a method of termination. CONCLUSIONS: Women should have the opportunity to choose the method of termination. This opportunity will result in high levels of acceptability, particularly at gestations under 50 days of amenorrhoea.

Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal↗
PubMed1994

A comparison of medical abortion (using mifepristone and gemeprost) with surgical vacuum aspiration: efficacy and early medical sequelae.

A total of 363 women undergoing legal abortion at < 63 days of amenorrhoea were allocated by a patient-centered, partially randomized study design to undergo medical abortion (using mifepristone 600 mg followed 48 h later by gemeprost 1 mg vaginal pessary) or vacuum aspiration (performed under general anaesthesia). The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy and complications of the two procedures. Main outcome measures included efficacy rates, medical complications within 21 days of abortion and unplanned family doctor consultation rates within 8 weeks following abortion. Sequelae such as pain, vaginal bleeding and recovery time were assessed by the change in haemoglobin level, the time taken to return to work or normal activity and the analgesic use. Results were gestation-related; at 50 days of amenorrhoea there was little to choose between the two procedures. At 50-63 days of amenorrhoea medical abortion becomes more painful and less effective, whereas vacuum aspiration retains high tolerance and efficacy. Women who are unsure which method to use are likely to find vacuum aspiration more acceptable at longer gestations.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed1993

Comparison of medical abortion with surgical vacuum aspiration: women's preferences and acceptability of treatment.

OBJECTIVES: To assess women's preferences for, and the acceptability of, medical abortion and vacuum aspiration in the early first trimester. DESIGN: Patient centred, partially randomised trial. Medical abortion was performed with mifepristone 600 mg followed 48 hours later by gemeprost 1 mg vaginal pessary. Vacuum aspiration was performed under general anaesthesia. SETTING: Teaching hospital in Scotland. PATIENTS: 363 women undergoing legal induced abortion at less than nine weeks' gestation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Women's preferences for method of abortion before abortion; acceptability judged two weeks after abortion by recording the method women would opt to undergo in future and by semantic differential rating technique. RESULTS: 73 (20%) women preferred to undergo medical abortion, and 95 (26%) vacuum aspiration; 195 (54%) were willing to undergo either method, and were allocated at random. Both procedures were highly acceptable to women with preferences. Gestation had a definite effect on acceptability in randomised women; at less than 50 days there were no differences, but between 50 and 63 days vacuum aspiration was significantly more acceptable. CONCLUSIONS: Women who wish to use a particular method should be allowed their choice, regardless of gestation. Women of 50-63 days' gestation without preferences for a particular method are likely to find vacuum aspiration more acceptable. A patient centred, partially randomised trial design may be a useful tool in pragmatic research.

Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal↗
PubMed1992

Medical abortion.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal↗
PubMed1991

Pre-operative cervical preparation before first trimester vacuum aspiration: a randomized controlled comparison between gemeprost and mifepristone (RU 486).

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of 200 mg mifepristone with 1 mg gemeprost vaginal pessary in achieving cervical dilatation and softening ('priming') before late first trimester pregnancy vacuum aspiration. DESIGN: A randomized, operator blind, placebo controlled trial. SETTING: UK teaching hospital. SUBJECTS: 90 primigravid women with 63-91 days amenorrhoea and ultrasonically confirmed single living fetus of correct size for gestational age. INTERVENTIONS: The women were allocated to receive 200 mg mifepristone orally or an identical oral placebo 36 h before operation or 1 mg gemeprost vaginal pessary 3-4 h preoperatively. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Onset of new symptoms following drug administration, a proven objective measure of the force required to dilate the cervix, and estimated intraoperative blood loss. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the baseline cervical dilatation, the force required to dilate the cervix or the volume of intraoperative blood loss between the active treatment groups. Both drugs were significantly more effective than placebo. Significantly fewer women in the mifepristone group had adverse side effects than in the gemeprost group. CONCLUSIONS: Mifepristone is a highly effective cervical priming agent, and has the advantages of being an oral preparation associated with few side effects.

Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal↗