Efficacy of routine postpartum uterine exploration and manual sponge curettage

Many physicians feel that manual exploration and sponge curettage of the uterus should be a routine part of all vaginal deliveries. Three hundred twenty uncomplicated routine vaginal deliveries (185 with exploration and sponge curettage, 135 without) were prospectively analyzed for differences in outcome with regard to postpartum hemorrhage, postpartum infection, and the patient's perception of pain. Results revealed there to be no clinically or statistically significant difference between these two groups in postpartum bleeding, postpartum white blood cell counts, and postpartum fever during the three-day postdelivery hospitalization. All patients were followed for six weeks. Five of 185 patients (2.7 percent) in the explored group returned for postpartum bleeding complications, one requiring hospital admission. Three of 135 (2.2 percent) returned for postpartum bleeding in the unexplored group, none requiring hospital admission. No patients in either group had complications with postpartum endometritis in the follow-up period. The patient's perception of pain was significantly higher in the explored and curettaged group as opposed to the unexplored group (P less than .0002). This study reveals that routine elective postpartum manual exploration and sponge curettage of the uterus is a painful procedure that is not clinically indicated for reducing the potential risk of postpartum hemorrhage or endometritis and is unnecessary following routine vaginal delivery.