Preterm pre-labour ruptured membranes close to term is associated with increased risk of neonatal infection, but immediate delivery is associated with risks of prematurity. The balance of risks is unclear. This study aimed to establish whether immediate birth in singleton pregnancies with ruptured membranes close to term reduces neonatal infection without increasing other morbidity (http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2815%2900724-2/abstract)
RDS, perinatal mortality, any ventilation,
NICU stay, hospital stay, birth weight, SGA,
Apgar <7@5m, antibiotics, LP, art line use,
inotropes, breastfeeding on discharge
Maternal: APH, IPH, VTE, cord prolapse,
antibiotics postpartum, intrapartum
fever, PPH, mode of delivery, labour
onset, & hospital stay
Sample size needed
906 per group to detect reduction of
5% in expectant group vs 2.5% in
immediate group @5% sig/80% power
13 in immediate group & 1 in
expectant group did not receive
intervention
1 lost to follow up & 2 withdrew
in IM and 1 lost to follow
up in EM
Primary outcome
assessed for 1835:
923 ID & 912 EM
Probable/definite
neonatal sepsis: NSD
(2% vs 3%)
Compared to EM, ID had no
effect on neonatal sepsis
regardless of GA at PPROM,
duration or antibiotic use & no
difference if GBS + at
randomisation
Baseline maternal & pregnancy
characteristics similar (including
GBS status)
At randomisation: 79/78% had swabs
collected & 26/27% were abnormal.
Overall 12% GBS rate in both groups
Steroids: 40% in each group
Antibiotics in previous
48h: 86% each group
'Any antibiotics'
92% vs 93%
EM: 75% managed as inpatient
Secondary outcomes
Composite neonatal outcome: NSD (8% vs 7%)
Birthweight: SD - 2574g vs 2673g
RDS: SD - 8% vs 5%
Mechanical ventilation: SD - 12% vs 9%
Days in SCN/NICU: SD - 4 vs 2 days
3 deaths in each group: = SIDS x1
(ID/EM), congen abn x1 (ID/EM),
sepsis x1 (ID), uknown x1 (EM)
Maternal outcomes
Maternal outcomes favouring
immediate delivery
APH: SD - 3% vs 5%
Fever: SD - 1% vs 2%
Maternal outcomes favouring
exepctant management
LSCS: SD - 26% vs 19%
6% of EM delivered
due to chorio
BACKGROUND
PROM 20% of all births &
40% of preterm births
Term: IOL preferable
Preterm: not
clear for >34/40
Risks of delay: abruption, infection,
fetal distress, cord prolapse
Risk of IOL:even mild prematurity
linked with health burden
Mind map by Danny Tucker
Jonathan M Morris, Christine L Roberts, Jennifer
R Bowen, Jillian A Patterson, Diana M Bond,
Charles S Algert, Jim G Thornton, Caroline A
Crowther, on behalf of the PPROMT Collaboration