Analysis of risk factors, maternal and fetal outcome of spontaneous preterm premature rupture of membranes: a cross sectional study

Background: Preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) is one of the most common complications of pregnancy. It is an important cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Objective of present study was to determine incidence, risk factors, maternal, fetal outcome of PPROM occurring in patients attending a tertiary hospital in North Eastern India.Methods: This descriptive cross- sectional study was carried out in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal, India. Out of 15,969 deliveries between July 2010 to December 2011, 358 pregnant patients with spontaneous preterm premature rupture of membranes from 28-0 to 36-6weeks gestation were reviewed. After excluding patients with uterine anomalies, intrauterine deaths and congenital anomalies 293 patients were included and evaluated in this study.Results: The incidence of PPROM was 2.2%. Out of 293 patients 86% were singleton pregnancies, 12.9% were twins and 1.02% were triplets. 48.4% had previous history of termination of pregnancy, 28.6% history of previous PPROM and 16.3% had urinary tract infection. The mean gestational age at the onset of membrane rupture was 34.1+2.4 weeks and the latency from the membrane rupture to delivery interval ranged from 0-72 days with a mean of 48.4 hours. There were 7stillbirths (2.38%) and 4 neonatal deaths (1.02%) resulting in perinatal deaths of 3.29% and perinatal mortality rate of 0.329 per 1000 births due to PPROM. Maternal morbidity was minimal with postpartum haemorrhage in 11 patients (4.1%), abruptio placentae in 7 patients (2.3%) and sepsis in 43patients (14.6%). 66 patients (22.5%) underwent caesarean section for which malpresentations were the major cause.Conclusions: Despite remarkable advances in perinatal care, preterm premature rupture of membranes continues to cause perinatal morbidity and mortality. Strategies should be developed for its prevention. Management protocol should be improved in regard to vaginal swab culture and use of specific antibiotics

Thyroid dysfunction in preeclampsia and related fetomaternal outcomes

Background: Changes in thyroid function in normal pregnancy are well-documented but in complicated pregnancy like preeclampsia, very little is known. Studies have shown evidences of hypothyroidism in preeclampsia necessitating thyroid function tests to be done in preeclampsia. The study was done to analyze the fetomaternal outcome of preeclampsia with coexisting thyroid dysfunction.Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was done over 18 months on 95 preeclamptic patients admitted at the antenatal ward and fetomaternal outcomes were analyzed according to thyroid status.Results: Out of 95 patients with preeclampsia, 42 (44.2%) had thyroid dysfunction. Among these 42 patients, 37 (38.9%) patients had subclinical hypothyroidism, 4 (4.2%) had overt hypothyroidism and 1 (1%) had hyperthyroidism. Severe preeclampsia was seen in 64.3% of the patients with thyroid dysfunction compared with 39.6% in euthyroid patients. The mean thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level was significantly higher and means free thyroxine (fT4) level was significantly lower in severe preeclampsia compared with non-severe preeclampsia. Complications like abruption, intrauterine fetal death (IUD), intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), oligohydramnios, preterm deliveries, postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), low birth weight babies, birth asphyxia in babies and subsequent neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions were significantly higher (p <0.05) in the preeclampsia patients with thyroid dysfunction in comparison with euthyroid ones.Conclusions: Hypothyroidism may be a modifiable risk factor for preeclampsia. Thyroid screening early in pregnancy may be helpful in predicting the occurrence of preeclampsia and timely thyroid hormone administration can reduce the maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality associated with preeclampsia