Association of premature rupture of membranes with idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome.

A retrospective study involving all admissions to two neonatal intensive care centers over a 4-year period was carried out to assess the protective effect, or lack of it, of prolonged rupture of membranes (ROM) on the prevalence of idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS) in premature infants. Significantly fewer cases of IRDS were found in patients in all gestational age groups when ROM was greater than 24 hours as compared with those with ROM of less than 12 hours' duration. However, prolonged ROM was not consistently associated with a difference in prevalence of respiratory failure accompanying IRDS, or in the prevalence of sepsis or neonatal mortality in this patient population. It is concluded that benefit to a premature infant in the form of reduced risk of developing IRDS is possible if the mother is allowed 24 hours after ROM before the delivery is initiated.