Letter to the editor

Abstract

In response to the article entitled “Management of premature rupture of membranes at term: the need to correct a recurring mistake in articles, chapters, and recommendations of professional organizations,”1Krispin E. Management of premature rupture of membranes at term: the need to correct a recurring mistake in articles, chapters, and recommendations of professional organizations.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2017; 217: 661-662.e1Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (8) Google Scholar the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) shares the belief that published reviews, recommendations, and guidelines should be evidence based and published errata should be incorporated promptly. ACOG acknowledges the inclusion of the original uncorrected information from Table 1 of the 1999 publication by Hannah et al2Hannah M.E. Ohlsson A. Farine D. et al.for the TERMPROM Study GroupInduction of labor compared with expectant management for prelabor rupture of membranes at term.N Engl J Med. 1996; 334: 1005-1010Crossref PubMed Scopus (327) Google Scholar in the references Practice Bulletin entitled “Premature Rupture of Membranes”3American College of Obstetricians and GynecologistsPremature rupture of membranes. ACOG Practice bulletin no. 172.Obstet Gynecol. 2016; 128: e165-e177Crossref PubMed Scopus (100) Google Scholar and recognizes that this may have resulted in patients being given incorrect statistics when they are counseled in general about term Premature Rupture of the Membranes (PROM) on admission. As a result, ACOG has taken steps to address this error by correcting the specified Practice Bulletin on PROM through an interim update that will be distributed to its membership. However, it is important to note that it is unlikely that any inappropriate management advice resulted from the inclusion of this error. The uncorrected information has always been presented as background material and not as part of the Clinical Considerations and Recommendations section regarding patient management. The clinical recommendation for prompt induction after presentation with term PROM is based on additional data, including a systematic review and meta-analysis, which has recently been updated and will be included in the interim update of the Practice Bulletin.4Dare M.R. Middleton P. Crowther C.A. Flenady V.J. Varatharaju B. Planned early birth versus expectant management (waiting) for prelabour rupture of membranes at term (37 weeks or more).Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006; : CD005302PubMed Google Scholar, 5Middleton P. Shepherd E. Flenady V. McBain R.D. Crowther C.A. Planned early birth versus expectant management (waiting) for prelabour rupture of membranes at term (37 weeks or more).Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017; : CD005302PubMed Google Scholar ACOG continues to stand by its clinical recommendation. ACOG has long had mechanisms in place to rectify these matters, and we have added steps to strengthen those checks to ensure that all ACOG publications provide accurate information for the obstetrician-gynecologist. We continue to strive for development and dissemination of accurate, current, and evidence-supported clinical guidance for the care of women. Management of premature rupture of membranes at term: the need to correct a recurring mistake in articles, chapters, and recommendations of professional organizationsAmerican Journal of Obstetrics & GynecologyVol. 217Issue 6PreviewRecommendations about the management of premature rupture of membranes at term are based, in part, on a large, randomized controlled trial published in 1996: the TERMPROM trial. The original article contained an error in Table 1, in which “Interval from membrane rupture to delivery” was listed instead of “Interval from membrane rupture to study entry.” While the authors and journal corrected this error, the mistake published in the original paper has made its way into subsequent publications and even in guidelines or practice bulletins issued by professional organizations, textbooks, and other publications around the world. Full-Text PDF ReplyAmerican Journal of Obstetrics & GynecologyVol. 218Issue 1PreviewI thank Drs Zhan, Jackson, and Turrentine and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists for their prompt and thorough response1 to my Viewpoint in AJOG entitled “Management of premature rupture of membranes at term: the need to correct a recurring mistake in articles, chapters, and recommendations of professional organizations.”2 With the letter of Drs Zhan, Jackson, and Turrentine, ACOG has shown a serious commitment to women’s health by recognizing an error in their Practice Bulletin, and has taken steps to amend the Practice Bulletin about the management of women with premature rupture of membranes (PROM) at term. Full-Text PDF