The timing of elective delivery in preterm premature rupture of the membranes: a survey of members of the Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to assess the gestational age at which elective delivery is considered in an otherwise uncomplicated patient with preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PROM) by members of the Society of Maternal Fetal-Medicine (SMFM).


METHODS
A 3-page survey was mailed to members of the SMFM for this observational study. Information solicited included demographic data and practice patterns for the timing of delivery in patients with preterm PROM.


RESULTS
Seven hundred seventeen questionnaires (40%) were completed. The majority (81%) did not believe there is a consensus regarding the gestational age for elective delivery in patients with preterm PROM. With confirmed fetal lung maturity, the greatest number of respondents selected 32 and 34 weeks as the earliest gestational age for elective delivery. In the absence of fetal pulmonary maturity testing, the majority of respondents chose 34 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
Most SMFM respondents electively deliver uncomplicated patients with preterm PROM by 34 weeks' gestation.
Healy
Andrew J
AJ
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY 10032, USA. anh9018@nyp.org
Veille
Jean-Claude
JC
Sciscione
Anthony
A
McNutt
Louise-Anne
LA
Dexter
Scott C
SC
D000328:Adult; D003657:Decision Making; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005865:Gestational Age; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011336:Probability; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012955:Societies, Medical; D013997:Time Factors