Preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM)‎ : incidence and outcome

الملخص EN

Objective : This study was carried out to describe the incidence, and to evaluate the latency period and outcome of cases with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) treated conservatively.

Patients and Methods : This prospective study was done over a period of twelve months at Prince Ali Military Hospital, Alkarak city, in the south of Jordan.

All women with PPROM and gestational age between 28 and 36 weeks (91 cases) who were admitted in the antenatal ward of Obstetric Unit were involved in our study.

Incidence, latency period, perinatal consequences and obstetrical and socio-economic characteristics of women with PPROM were the main outcome measures.

Results : Incidence of PPROM was 3.8 %.

Most of the patients were below 25 years or above 35 years of age (37.3 %, 28.5 % respectively).

Majority belonged to low socio-economic class.

Thirty-one patients had previous history of abortion or preterm delivery, seventy patients delivered within 48 hours.

Eighty eight percent of patients delivered vaginally.

Perinatal mortality was 12 %.

Conclusion : In our hospital, the incidence of PPROM was higher than that reported from developed countries.

This increase in incidence may be explained on the basis of high incidence of poverty, illiteracy, low maternal weight, young maternal age, abortion, preterm delivery, nulliparity and grand multiparity, which are known as risk factors for PPROM.

Gestational age at delivery and birth weight both affect neonatal survival so expectant management by adopting strict clinical criteria to achieve fetal maturity is a favorable option.