Outcome of neonates born to mothers with premature rupture of membranes

Introduction: Premature rupture of membranes (PROM) refers to rupture of fetal membranes prior to the onset of labour regardless of the gestation. It complicates about 8% to 10% of term pregnancies and approximately 1% of preterm pregnancies.

Objectives: To assess the outcome (morbidity/ mortality) of neonates born to mothers with PROM and to assess the prevalence of PROM in the Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital (AVBRH), Sawangi (Meghe), Wardha, Maharashtra, India.

Method: This is a prospective observational study, conducted in the Department of Paediatrics, AVBRH, over a 2 year period with a sample size of 125 neonates born to mothers with history of PROM (≥ 8 hours). 

Results: The male to female ratio was 0.8 and the ratio of normal vaginal delivery (NVD) to lower segment caesarean section (LSCS) was 1.85.  Common associated morbidities were respiratory distress (30.4%), clinical sepsis (28.8%), culture positive sepsis (9.6%), birth asphyxia (5.6%), pneumonia (2.4%) and meningitis (2.4%). Neonates with blood cultures positive for coagulase negative staphylococcus and pseudomonas had 100% mortality. Mortality rate in neonates born to mothers with a history of PROM was 2.4%, sepsis and birth asphyxia being the leading causes of mortality.

Conclusions: The prevalence of PROM ≥8 hours’ duration in mothers of in AVBRH was 2.93%. The mortality rate was 2.4%, sepsis and birth asphyxia being the leading causes of mortality.

Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 2020; 49(3): 256-262