Sumera Tahir, Mahmood Aleem, Rubina Aziz.
Incidence and outcome of preterm-premature rupture of membranes.
Pak J Med Sci Jan ;18(1):26-32.

Objective: To know the incidence and to evaluate the outcome of cases of preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). Design: An observational study done over a period of 1 year between 31st January 1999 to 31st January 2000. Setting: 136 cases of PPROM admitted in the antenatal ward of Obstetric and Gynecology Unit II, Punjab Medical College, Divisional Head Quarter (DHQ) Hospital, Faisalabad. Main Outcome Measures: Incidence, latency period, perinatal mortality & morbidity & maternal morbidity. Results: Incidence of Pre-term premature rupture of membrane was 5.4%. Most of the patients were below 25 years or above 30 years of age (74%, 66% respectively). Majority belonged to low socio-economic group. Thirty-two patients had previous history of abortion or preterm delivery, seventy-eight patients delivered within first 48 hours. About 2.6% percent patients developed choriomnionitis. Eighty six percent patients delivered vaginally. Perinatal mortality was 19%. Retained placenta & abruption was seen in 0.7% cases each. Conclusions: PPROM is a major obstetric problem. Expectant management upto 36 weeks is a favourable option in our circumstances where neonatal intensive care units (N.I.C.U.) are not available. Prolongation of pregnancy to achieve fetal maturity can be possible by adopting strict clinical criteria thereby decreasing prematurity.

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