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Frequently
Asked
Questions |
| 1997 dec | "An accumulating body of research indicates that infection and inflammation are a primary cause of preterm labor and premature rupture of the membranes (PROM)." |
How common is (P)PROM?
| 1998 nov: | "Preterm premature rupture of fetal membranes is responsible for 30% to 40% of preterm deliveries." |
| 1991 oct: | "The reported incidence of preterm premature rupture of membranes ranges between 1% and 2% of all pregnancies." |
How long can the pregnancy be prolonged?
| 1998 dec: | "The median latency periods to delivery were 72 days, 12 days, and 10 days when rupture of membranes occurred at 14-19 weeks, 20-25 weeks, and 26-28 weeks, respectively." |
| 1994 aug: | "Patients (n = 511). 20-36 gest weeks. Over 47.8% of the patients continued their pregnancy beyond 48 hours, and in 12.9% of cases expectant management of preterm premature rupture of membranes prolonged the pregnancy by > or = 7 days." |
| 1993 feb: | "The median latency period was 10.5 days; in 26% of patients delivery was delayed > 2 weeks." |
| 1990 sep: | "The mean gestational age at diagnosis of rupture of membranes was 23.7 weeks. The latency period ranged from 24 hours to 60 days with the mean being 12 days. There was no correlation between gestational age at rupture of membranes and latency period." |
How are the chances of survival for the baby?
| 1998 dec: | "Survival without major
impairment was observed in 75%, 80%, and 100% of the survivors when rupture
of membranes occurred at 14-19 weeks, 20-25 weeks, and 26-28 weeks, respectively."
( Fifty-three consecutive singleton pregnancies with PROM at 14 to 28 weeks
of
gestation were studied retrospectively. ) |
| 1996 may: | "...survival of neonates with a history of very early ROM but who do not deliver until > 23 weeks is much better than previously thought" |
| 1993 feb: | "Survival was achieved in 39 (40%) of neonates; 63% of these survivors were considered to have had normal development at 1 year of life (corrected)." |
| 1991: | "The fetal outcome of the 20 pregnancies with rupture of membranes before 26 completed weeks was poor; only 7 infants of the 10 born alive survived the neonatal period." |
| 1990 sep: | "The perinatal survival in patients with midtrimester rupture of membranes appears to be improving with the advancements in neonatal care of the extremely premature infant." |
How are the outcome of antibiotic medication to prevent infection?
| 1997 sep: | "Among GBS-negative women, significant pregnancy prolongation was seen with antibiotics" |
How long before elective delivery?
| 1988 oct: | "We conclude that premature rupture of the membranes, even with onset in the second trimester, may be associated with a favourable outcome and this may be predicted by the persistence of fetal breathing movements. We therefore, recommend expectant management of such pregnancies, but suggest elective delivery at 34 weeks to limit fetal exposure to uterine compression and minimise the risks of prematurity." |
Disabilities for survivors?
| 1993 feb: | "Premature rupture of membranes at < 25 weeks is associated with a relatively high risk of perinatal mortality and neonatal and long-term morbidity, but a successful outcome can be achieved in about 60% of survivors." |
| 1988 oct: | "Of the survivors, 27% developed compressive limb abnormalities, all of which responded to passive physiotherapy. Pulmonary hypoplasia was significantly associated with earlier onset of rupture of the membranes, and the absence of fetal breathing movements. Compressive limb abnormalities were significantly associated with longer periods of oligohydramnios." |
What are the risk of PROM reoccuring in the next pregnancy?
| 1996 jan: | "The fact that preterm premature rupture of membranes tends to recur in subsequent pregnancies offers an opportunity for prevention. Moreover, advances in perinatal and neonatal care will continue to improve the outcomes of these women and their children." |
| 1991 oct: | "Recurrent preterm premature rupture of membranes occurred in 39 of 121 patients, for a rate of 32.2% (95% confidence interval, 23.9 +/- 40.5)." ..."We conclude that patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes should be counseled regarding the significant risk of recurrence and need to have close follow-up in their subsequent pregnancies." |
