Respiratory outcomes of neonates born after previable premature rupture of membranes and treated with gentle ventilation.

OBJECTIVE

We aim to describe neonatal respiratory outcomes following previable preterm premature rupture of membranes(PPROM) when gentle ventilation is utilized. We also report maternal morbidity and mortality.

STUDY DESIGN

This is a retrospective single-center cohort study of infants delivered between 2016 and 2020 that included infants born at ≥23 weeks without major congenital anomaly after a pregnancy complicated with PPROM before 23 weeks gestation. Statistical analysis utilized unpaired Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney U-test when appropriate.

RESULTS

35 infants from 33 pregnancies were included. 91.4% of infants survived until discharge and 12.1% developed Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD). Those who developed BPD had significantly lower amniotic fluid levels prior to delivery (p < 0.05). There was no significant maternal morbidity or mortality in this cohort.

CONCLUSION

This cohort had high survival and low rates of respiratory morbidities. This suggests the use of gentle ventilation might be the optimal strategy for patients born after previable PPROM.