Preterm Prelabour Rupture of Membrane (PPROM) in a Young Female in South-South Nigeria: A Clinical Case Report.

A 30-year-old in a second pregnancy presented with new-onset spontaneous vaginal discharge of clear liquid for two hours at a gestational age of 29 weeks + 6 days; no other symptoms were present. Movement aggravated vaginal fluid leakage. She appeared anxious but otherwise vitally stable. An immediate ultrasound scan revealed reduced liquor volume. Conservative management was followed by the surgical delivery of a live preterm neonate. The neonate was admitted to the Special Care Baby Unit and the mother was monitored post-surgically in the obstetric ward. Several studies have described the etiology, pathogenesis, and various approaches to the management of Preterm Prelabour Rupture of Membranes (PPROM); however, there is no single global guideline for managing this condition. There is a consensus that PPROM is a notable risk factor for preterm labor, and significantly impacts both maternal and neonatal morbidity, as well as neonatal mortality. We compared epidemiology across other countries to the statistics obtained from Nigeria as well as management guidelines. Studies have also described the advantages of conservative management over proactive surgical intervention in improving neonatal outcomes. Moreover, the management of PPROM is affected by healthcare resources in different countries and their national protocol, and the impact is significant in developing countries like Nigeria such as the age of fetal viability and the lack of a national protocol. This paper explores PPROM and an   uncommon presentation of spontaneous PPROM in the South-South region of Nigeria with only drainage of liquor. This case exemplifies the management approaches of PPROM in an underserved community and the factors that affect the survival of neonates in these communities. The index patient was initially managed conservatively and subsequently delivered a live preterm neonate surgically with good APGAR (appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, and respiration) scores. We expect this case report to prompt a unifying guideline for managing PPROM cases while encouraging advanced research and financial support of PPROM screening and treatment in low-income countries.