Preterm premature rupture of membranes: Clinical outcomes of late-preterm infants

Objective: To determine gestational age-specific neonatal outcomes of late preterm infants delivered as a consequence of premature rupture of membranes (PROM). Methods: Retrospective cohort study of infants born to women delivered electively due to preterm PROM between 34^0/7 and 36^6/7 weeks of gestation. Neonatal outcomes were compared between those delivered at 34^0/7 to 34^6/7 weeks, at 35^0/7 to 35 ^6/7 weeks, and at 36^0/7 to 36^6/7 weeks. Results: 192 infants were identified. The 34^0/7 to 34^6/7 week infants had significantly higher neonatal intensive care admission rate (72.5%) compared to those at 35^0/7 to 35^6/7 weeks (22.8%) and at 36 to 36^6/7 weeks (17.8%) (P <.05). Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome was significantly higher at 34^0/7 to 34 ^6/7 weeks (35.4%) compared with 35^0/7 to 35^6/7 week and 36^0/7 to 36^6/7 week infants (10.5% and 4.1%; P <.05). The longest hospitalization occurred in the 34^0/7 to 34^6/7 week infants (248.5 ± 20.0 hours). Conclusion: Substantial short-term morbidity occurred in late preterm infants. The greatest number of complications affected infants born at 34^0/7 to 34 ^6/7 weeks.