Preterm premature rupture of membranes: correlates and pregnancy outcome in a tertiary care setting

Prelabour membrane rupture before 37 weeks of gestation is referred to as preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). Incidence of PPROM is about 2% of all pregnancies. 1 The consequences of PPROM for the neonate fall into three major overlapping categories. The first is the significant neonatal morbidity and mortality associated with prematurity. Secondly the complications during labor and delivery increase the risk for neonatal resuscitation and thirdly infection. 2 The relative contributions of prematurity and perinatal infections to perinatal mortality are responsible for most of the controversy surrounding the optimal management of PPROM. Complications such as respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) contribute to most of the cases of neonatal mortality.