86 PROLONGED RUPTURE OF MEMBRANES ON HYALINE MEMBRANE DISEASE INCIDENCE

Abstract

A prospective study to clarify the relationship between Prolonged Rupture of membranes (PROM) and Hyaline Membrane Disease (HMD) was carried out. 56 appropriate for gestational age preterms infants were included. In 19 of these patients, rupture of the membranes occured 24 hs. or more, before birth, and in the other 37 the rupture of the membranes took place less than 24 hs. before delivery. The incidence of HMD was 10.5 % in the group with PROM vs. 56.7 % in the group without PROM. (p<0.001). When divided according to their gestational age the difference was yet significant below 32 weeks and between 32-34 weeks, whereas it was not at 35-36 weeks. The incidence of neonatal bacterial infection was higher in the group with FROM. There was no difference in mortality between groups. While bacterial infection was the most frequent fact associated with death in the group with PROM, 75 % of the deaths in the no PROM group were due to HMD. This data suggests that PROM prevents within certain limits HMD.