Pre-viable preterm premature rupture of membranes under 20 weeks of pregnancy: A retrospective cohort analysis for potential outcome predictors.

OBJECTIVE: While preterm premature rupture of membranes complicates an estimated 3 % of pregnancies, rupture near the limit of fetal viability is rarer (estimated 0.04 %). This study aimed to analyze maternal and neonatal outcomes in patients with premature preterm rupture of membranes (PPROM) before 20 0/7 weeks of pregnancy with the goal of identifying potential outcome predictors.

STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective cohort study examined 60 patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes before 20 0/7 weeks of pregnancy from 01/01/2008 through 12/31/2018 in a university hospital setting. Two patients were excluded from analysis due to fetal kidney dysplasia. Multiples (5 twins, 2 triplets) were excluded. The remaining 51 cases were analyzed.

RESULTS: Thirty-three patients (Range 12 5/7 weeks to 19 2/7 weeks) medically terminated pregnancy (64.7 %). Ten patients spontaneously aborted (19.6 %). Fifteen patients were diagnosed with intraamniotic infection (29.4 %). Neonatal mortality was 28.6 %% (one case of pulmonary hypoplasia). The baby take home rate was 9.8 % (27.8 % after excluding medical terminations) after a mean prolongation of 92.9 days. Neonatal morbidity included respiratory distress syndrome (57.1 %), infection (100 %, including all cases (direct postpartum and during admission), one case of sepsis), pulmonary hypoplasia (42.9 %), pulmonary hypertension (28.6 %), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (14.3 %), and sepsis combined pneumonia (14.3 %). 57.1 % of the infants could be discharged without severe morbidity and 80 % of the survivors had normal development at two and four years.

CONCLUSION: Anhydramnios combined with low gestational age at PPROM appear to negatively influence neonatal outcome after pre-viable preterm premature rupture of membranes. The incidence of neonatal complications decreased with increasing gestational age. Survival without long term severe morbidity is possible. Maximal therapy is an interdisciplinary decision and the patients should be counseled accordingly. Delivery in centers where potential postnatal complications including pulmonary hypoplasia, severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia and respiratory distress syndrome can be aggressively treated is recommended.