title: Fetal and infant outcome of pregnancies with very early rupture of membranes.
abstract: Fetal and infant outcome was studied in 38 singleton pregnancies complicated by very early rupture of membranes (PROM), in gestational weeks 19-29, over a 4-year period, in a Swedish population. The pregnancies were managed according to a specified protocol, including postponement of delivery until 34 weeks of gestation if possible. Stillbirth occurred in 10 cases (26.3%), all with PROM before 26 completed weeks, while 6 other infants died in the neonatal period. Respiratory distress syndrome was evident in half (50.0%) of the 28 liveborn infants. The surviving 22 infants (57.9%) were followed up to 2 years of age. The rate of neurological sequelae at follow-up was 22.7% (5/22). 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. The short-term fetal outcome in the group with rupture of membranes in 26-29 completed weeks was better: 15 of the 18 infants survived, but 4 had neurological sequelae. PROM before 29 completed weeks of gestation is associated with severe short-term and long-term fetal complications, in cases where the pregnancy is prolonged for several weeks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Montan
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Holmquist
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ingesson
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ingemarsson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors