title: Continuous amnioinfusion via an epidural catheter following spontaneous membrane rupture: A case report.
abstract: Preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) is seen in 3% of all pregnancies, and is a frequent cause of preterm birth, neonatal mortality and morbidity. The most important complications are maternal and foetal infection, prematurity, umbilical cord compression, hypoxia or asphyxia due to cord prolapse, pulmonary hypoplasia and extremity deformities. The basic approach to PPROM therapy aims to prevent premature birth and the development of foetal distress, and decrease the risk of maternal and foetal infection, and amniotic fluid loss. In compliance with these objectives, alternatives of PPROM therapy demonstrate a wide spectrum, including watchful waiting, amniopatch application, recurrent amnioinfusions and emergency birth. However, repeated amnioinfusions in cases of fluid loss, especially within 6 hours of therapy, provides only minimal benefit. In this case presentation, we attempted to describe a different and cost-effective continuous amnioinfusion technique performed to confer survival benefit for an immature anhydramniotic foetus affected by PPROM at the border of viability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dicle University School of Medicine, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: Abdulkadir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Turgut
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Veni Vidi Hospital, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: Selahattin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Katar
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dicle University School of Medicine, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: Muhammet Erdal
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Sak
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Diyarbakır Training and Research Hospital, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fethiye Gülden
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Turgut
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Dicle University School of Medicine, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: Alparslan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sahin
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dicle University School of Medicine, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: Serdar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Başaranoğlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dicle University School of Medicine, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yalınkaya
keywords: Amnioinfusion; amniopatch; preterm premature rupture of membranes