title: Management of premature rupture of membranes at term.
abstract: Although prelabor rupture of membranes at term is common, in most cases, the spontaneous onset of labor relieves the obstetrician of the need for making management decisions. The standard practice in the United States has been to induce labor with intravenous oxytocin in that minority of patients who fail to labor spontaneously. Controlled trials suggest that this practice is associated with higher rates of both chorioamnionitis and the need for cesarean delivery than is expectancy. Expectancy, however, has not been demonstrated to be safer for the perinate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Iowa College of Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Zlatnik
mesh_terms: D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000517:prevention & control; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000628:therapy*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007751:Labor, Induced / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013997:Time Factors