Importance: For patients who present with prelabor rupture of membrane (PROM) in the late preterm period (34 to 36 6/7 weeks), management remains unclear due to lack of consensus. However, recent guidelines have suggested that shared decision-making may be used and expectant management can be considered up to 37 0/7 weeks.
Objective: In this article, we review the contemporary studies comparing the risks and benefits of immediate delivery versus expectant management for patients with late preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM).
Evidence acquisition: Original research articles, review articles, and guidelines on management of late PPROM.
Results: Three randomized clinical trials and 2 meta-analyses comparing expectant management and immediate delivery outcomes in late PPROM showed no significant difference in neonatal sepsis rates between groups. Expectant management increased the likelihood that pregnancies reached term while decreasing the rate of cesarean delivery. However, data suggest an increased risk of antepartum hemorrhage among patients in the expectant management groups, as well as higher rates of histologic chorioamnionitis.
Conclusions and relevance: We recommend that clinicians offer expectant management as an alternative to immediate delivery in the setting of late PPROM through a shared decision-making process that clearly outlines the risks and benefits.