PPROM in the late preterm period: an argument for expectant management

Preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM) is associated with significant neonatal risks. When PPROM occurs during the late preterm period (between 34 0/7 and 36 6/7 weeks gestation), the optimal gestational age for delivery is unclear and varies by regional practice. In 2020 the American College of Obstetrician and Gynecologists (ACOG) published guidelines indicating that both expectant management and immediate delivery were considered reasonable options. Historically, studies that examined the topic of expectant management versus immediate delivery of PPROM after 34 weeks supported immediate delivery based on an observed increased risk of infectious complications without any benefit to neonatal outcome. However, these studies were small and were underpowered to detect a meaningful difference in neonatal outcomes. In this review, we examine 6 randomized controlled trials and 2 meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials that investigated neonatal and maternal outcomes of expectant management versus immediate delivery of late preterm PROM. Included in this analysis are 3 recent randomized controlled trials (PPROMEXIL, PPROMEXIL2, and PPROMT) and 2 meta-analyses that demonstrate a decreased risk of respiratory distress syndrome and NICU admission rate with expectant management. This is counterbalanced by an increased risk of chorioamnionitis with expectant management, but definitions of chorioamnionitis are variable in the trials with unclear generalizability of the outcome across the trials. Additional analysis with a childhood outcome study showed no significant difference in neurodevelopment in infants born to expectant management of late preterm PROM, and an economic analysis found that expectant management was associated with lower delivery and neonatal costs. Overall, we support expectant management of late preterm PROM if maternal and fetal status are stable and there are no contraindications to expectant management but not extending beyond 37 0/7 weeks gestation.