Transabdominal amnioinfusion treatment of severe oligohydramnios in preterm premature rupture of membranes at less than 26 gestational weeks

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of transabdominal amnioinfusion on feto-neonatal and maternal morbidity and feto-neonatal mortality. Methods: We studied 71 patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes (pPROM) at <26 weeks of gestational age. Thirty-four patients were managed expectantly and 37 underwent serial transabdominal amnioinfusion with saline every 7 days in case of persistent oligohydramnios. Results: Latency period pPROM delivery, week of delivery (26.0 vs. 22.4, p < 0.001), neonatal weight (922 vs. 602, p < 0.01) and the percentage of intrauterine fetal survival were higher in treated than in control groups (64.8 vs. 32.3%, p < 0.01). In amnioinfusion-treated patients, we did not note a higher rate of complications from infection during both pregnancy and puerperium. In the amnioinfusion group, fluid loss within 6 h after infusion is the main variable in predicting pulmonary hypoplasia and neonatal survival. Conclusions: Our data suggest that amnioinfusion seems to be a low fetal and maternal risk technique that modifies the natural history of pPROM, improving fetal intrauterine stay and survival. Copyright (C) 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel.