A systematic review of intentional delivery in women with preterm prelabor rupture of membranes

Maternal characteristics and timing of presentation following pre-labour rupture of membranes

BACKGROUND

To examine the influence of maternal characteristics on timing of presentation for intervention following pre-labour rupture of membrane (PROM) at term.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a descriptive study of cases of term PROM with singleton births at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) from October 2011 to December 2012. Interval from onset of PROM to presentation to hospital was used as dependent variable. From the study population, two groups were identified based on time interval (≤24 hours or >24 hours) from PROM to presentation to hospital and their relationship to socio-demographic characteristic examined.

RESULTS

Over the study period, records of 110 women met the inclusion criteria and were selected for analysis. Their mean age was 29.26 ± 0.67 years; they were all married with 41.8% being nulliparous women. The mean gestational age at presentation with PROM was 38.5 ± 1.2. Over 50% had tertiary level of education. Overall, 38.2% were in social class 1. With regard to maternal response behaviour to PROM, 65.5% presented to the hospital within 24 hours while 34.5% presented after 24 hours of rupture of membranes. Majority of those that presented within 24 hours of PROM were in (upper) social class 1 and 2 and this differed significantly from those that presented after 24 hours, most of whom were in (lower) social class 3,4 and 5; [56 (77.8%) vs 16 (22.2%) and 14 (36.8%) vs 24 (63.2%)] P = 0.0001.

CONCLUSION

Delay in presentation after PROM, illustrative of maternal under utilisation of BPACR package, is associated with being in a lower social class. Socio-economic and educational empowerment of women is advocated, while prospective research on maternal perception and attitude towards ANC is proposed.

Effects of intentional delivery on maternal and neonatal outcomes in pregnancies with preterm prelabour rupture of membranes between 28 and 34 weeks of gestation: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effects of intentional delivery (ID) over expectant management (EM) in pregnancies complicated by preterm prelabour rupture of membranes (PPROM) between 28 and 34 weeks of gestation on maternal and neonatal outcomes.

METHODS

We searched Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, CENTRAL and Science Citation Index; contacted experts and checked reference lists of relevant studies. Studies were included if they were randomized controlled trials in all languages.

RESULTS

Five randomized trials were included and 488 subjects were analyzed. Overall, the results showed significant heterogeneity. Maternal infection as well as respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) & neonatal sepsis (NS) were not different between the two groups. Neonatal death, however, was significantly higher (risk ratio: 5.81; 95% CI: 1.35-25.08; p = 0.03) in the ID group after excluding studies that gave antenatal steroids. Incidence of cesarean section was significantly higher in the intentional delivery group, as well (risk ratio: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.02-1.80; p = 0.03).

CONCLUSION

Based on the available evidence, ID in pregnancies complicated with PPROM between 28 and 34 weeks carries some maternal and neonatal risks with no added benefits. Thus, this treatment should not be considered as an option for women with PPROM before 34 weeks of gestation in the absence of other indications for early delivery.

Optimal time for delivery with preterm premature rupture of membranes from 32 to 36 6/7 weeks

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the optimal time for delivery in singleton pregnancies with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) when delivered between 32 and 36 6/7 weeks gestational age (GA).

STUDY DESIGN

We performed a retrospective cohort study of all singleton pregnancies with PPROM who delivered between 32 and 36 6/7 weeks gestation at our institution. We matched the delivery and NICU datasets to determine composite morbidity (COMP MORB) and NICU length of stay (LOS) stratified by weeks of gestation. COMP MORB was defined as one or more of: bronchopulmonary dysplasia, respiratory distress syndrome, necrotizing entercolitis, intraventricular hemorrhage, dissiminated intravascular coagulation, and culture proven sepsis. We used χ² and student 't' test as appropriate and a receiver operating characteristc curve (ROC).

RESULTS

There were 195 newborns with PPROM with a range of 30 babies at 36 weeks to a high of 53 at 34 weeks. The mean (± SD) NICU LOS was 22.5 (± 9.9) days at 32 weeks, 17.8 (± 10.0) days at 33 weeks, 14.8 (± 11.0) days at 34 weeks, 4.5 (± 4.7) days at 35 weeks, and 1.5 (± 4.4) days at 36 weeks (p < 0.0001). There was no difference in duration of ROM by GA with a range of 6.8 to 1.9 by week (p = NS). The ROC curve had a cut point for COMP MORB at 34.1 weeks GA (sens = 95%, FPR 48.6%, area under curve 0.782, p = 0.0002).

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that delivery of PPROM pregnancies at 34.1 weeks GA avoids 95% of composite morbidity, and delivery after 35 weeks GA will decrease the NICU LOS.