Preterm Prelabour Rupture Of Membranes (PPROM) before 23 weeks gestation: A prospective observational study

ObjectivesDescribe infant and maternal outcomes of a national cohort of women with preterm prelabour rupture of membranes (PPROM) under 23 weeks gestation. DesignProspective national population-based cohort study using the UK Obstetric Surveillance System (UKOSS). SettingAll 194 obstetric units in the UK. Participants330 women with singleton and 38 with multiple pregnancies and PPROM between 16+0 and 22+6 weeks gestation 1/9/19-28/2/21. Main outcome measuresInfant outcomes: livebirth, survival to hospital discharge and severe morbidity, defined as intraventricular haemorrhage grade 3 or 4 and/or supplemental oxygen requirement at 36 weeks postmenstrual age. Maternal outcomes: surgery for placental removal; sepsis; admission to intensive treatment unit (ITU) and death. MethodsAll data including rates of termination of pregnancy for medical reasons (TFMR) were reported. Three rates were calculated for infant outcomes: i) all TFMR excluded; ii) assuming that all TFMR and those with missing data would have died; iii) assuming that all TFMR and those with missing data would be liveborn. Rates are presented as i (ii to iii). ResultsFor singleton pregnancies the livebirth rate was 44% (30 to 62%), infant survival to discharge was 26% (16 to 54%) and 18% (12 to 49%) of infants survived without severe morbidity. Maternal sepsis rate was 12% for singleton and 26% for twin pregnancies. Surgery for placental removal was 20% and 14%, respectively. Five women became severely unwell with sepsis, 2 died and a further 3 required ITU care. ConclusionsAlthough significant numbers of pregnancies with very early PPROM have favourable outcomes, morbidity and mortality rates in this cohort are high for mothers and infants. These data can be used in counselling families facing PPROM prior to 23 weeks gestation and to underpin research into the complex pathologies, including sepsis, related to this condition. Currently available guidelines should be updated accordingly. What is already known on this topicO_LIPPROM under 23 weeks gestation is a serious pregnancy complication with high rates of morbidity for mothers and infants C_LIO_LIWomen are often advised to consider termination for medical reasons (TFMR) C_LIO_LIContemporary, population based, pregnancy outcomes are not available, making counselling even more difficult C_LI What this study addsO_LIThis study identified significant maternal morbidity; 12% of women developed sepsis and 2 women (0.6%, 95%CI 0.17-2.2%) died C_LIO_LIConversely infant outcomes were relatively favourable; 26% of expectantly managed infants survived to hospital discharge and the potential worst-best case survival range including those that had termination for medical reasons (TFMR) was 16-54% C_LIO_LIUnderstanding of these results are imperative to appropriate counselling and management of women facing this difficult complication C_LI