Premature rupture of the membranes at term. A comparison of induced and spontaneous labors.

Analysis of 150 patients at term (greater than 36 weeks) with premature rupture of the membranes (PROM) was made. In the group followed conservatively, 87.5% (98 of 112) began labor within 48 hours, and only 3.6% (4 of 112) had a latent period of greater than seven days. The incidence of cesarean section in patients with induced and spontaneous labors was compared in corrected groups. The induced group had a 39% (15 of 38) cesarean section rate as compared to 12% (11 of 91) in the spontaneous labor group (p = less than 0.01). None of the patients in the study showed signs of sepsis by central cultures, and only 12.7% (19 of 150) showed febrile morbidity. A conservative approach to term patients with PROM and an unfavorable cervix for induction seems to decrease the incidence of cesarean section.