Perinatal outcomes of pregnancies complicated by preterm premature rupture of the membranes before 34 weeks of gestation in a tertiary center in China: A retrospective review

Preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM) remains the leading cause of preterm deliveries and neonatal mortality and morbidity. The current cohort study sought to retrospectively examine perinatal outcomes in cases of PPROM < 34 weeks gestation that were managed conservatively from 2010 to 2012 and to identify risk factors for short-term neonatal outcomes. Subjects were 510 pregnancies consisting of 114 twin and 396 singleton pregnancies. Clinical chorioamnionitis occurred in 17.8% of the pregnancies. Neonatal mortality was 7.4% the rate of major neonatal conditions was 40% and the rate of NICU admission was 72.9%. The latency period exceeded 48 h in 62.5% of the pregnancies and 7 days in 24.3% of the pregnancies. Twin pregnancies had a shorter latency period than singleton pregnancies (median of 2 days versus 4 days p < 0.001). Pregnancies complicated with early vaginal bleeding had a higher neonatal mortality (13.95% vs. 6.36% p = 0.013) and morbidity (51.16% vs. 38.32% p = 0.024) fewer weeks of gestation at PPROM (p = 0.029). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that weeks of gestation at PPROM (OR: 0.953 95% CI: 0.939-0.966 p < 0.001) and a latency period (OR: 0.948 95%CI: 0.926-0.970 p < 0.001) were associated with neonatal mortality or morbidity. A twin pregnancy (OR: 0.319 95% CI: 0.17-0.6 p < 0.001) and weeks of gestation at PPROM (OR: 0.737 95% CI: 0.66-0.822 p < 0.001) were associated with the latency period. Gestational age at PPROM a twin pregnancy and the latency period are associated with neonatal mortality and morbidity.