PURPOSE: to evaluate maternal and perinatal outcomes of premature rupture of membranes up to the 26th week of gestation. METHODS: retrospective analysis of the cases of premature rupture of membranes up to the 26th week of gestation, without signs of labor or treatment for this condition before admission, followed up at the Obstetric Pathology Infirmary of the "Maternidade Escola Assis Chateaubriand", Federal University of Ceará, from January 1994 to December 1999. The cases with gestational age less than 22 weeks and birth weight lower than 500 g were excluded. Premature rupture of membranes was confirmed by sterile speculum examination. In doubt, amniotic fluid crystallization test and pH determination were performed. All pregnant women underwent ultrasound examination to determine gestational age and amniotic fluid volume. Data concerning the result of gestation and consequences for the mother, fetus and neonate were analyzed. RESULTS: a total of 29 cases of premature rupture of membranes fulfilled inclusion criteria. The mean gestational age at rupture of membranes was 22 weeks. The mean duration of the latency period was 21.7 days. There Were 22 spontaneous vaginal and 3 induced deliveries, besides 4 cesarean sections. In six pregnant women there were signs of infection before labor. Antibiotics were administered in 37.9% of the cases and corticosteroids in 6.9%. No patient underwent tocolysis. There were 3 fetal and 25 neonatal deaths. Only one infant survived. This child remained at the neonatal care unit for 19 days due to infection and respiratory distress syndrome. There was no maternal death. CONCLUSION: the premature rupture of membranes up to the 26th week of gestation has been a fatal discase for fetuses and newborns in our institution.
Premature rupture of membranes; Perinatal prognosis; Amniotic fluid; Prematurity