Abstract: Background: Premature rupture of membranes (PROM) is a common and important event in obstetrics. One of the most challenging situations, the obstetrician encounter is the management of a patient with PROM Indeed no single entity in obstetric practice is so surfeited with divergent views regarding its causation and management.
Objectives: To study the incidence of premature rupture of membranes and to find the effect of it on prenatal and maternal morbidity and mortality.
Methods: A total of hundred patients who were diagnosed to have spontaneous premature rupture of membranes (PROM) and admitted in the Shadan Institute of medical Sciences, Hyderabad were studied. A detailed history was taken of all these patients, All patients were examined including general examination, systemic examination, abdominal examination for foetal position and presentation, speculum and digital prevaginal examination.
Results: Out of 1220 patients during the study period 100 cases had premature rupture of membranes with the incidence of 12.2% in this hospital. Overall incidence of amnionitis in PROM is 19%. The overall incidence of postpartum morbidity in PROM was 5%. Overall perinatal mortality in PROM is 15% overall perinatal mortality in the total no. of deliveries is 7.6%. Out of 100 cases studied 20 cases were premature babies. 65% of these perinatal deaths were amongst premature while 35% in mature infants.
Conclusion: The duration of latent period was directly related to the development of amnionitis, maternal morbidity and perinatal morbidity and mortality.