Abstract
The Historical Practice of “Membrane Sweep” to Initiate Labour: Does it Have a Role in Contemporary Obstetric Practice?
Highlights
The “membrane sweep” or artificial separation of membranes (ASOM) was introduced into clinical practice to artificially initiate labor, and to avoid the risks of a prolonged pregnancy
40 years ago, it was shown that bacteria could cause intra-amniotic infection even in the presence of “intact” amniotic membranes [7]
The Historical Practice of “Membrane Sweep” to Initiate Labour: Does it Have a Role in Contemporary Obstetric Practice?.Glob J Reprod Med. 2021; 8(2): 5556733
Summary
26% of suspected cases of intra amniotic infection following amniocentesis in women without the rupture of membranes [8]. Studies show that Prostaglandin F 2 Alpha was elevated in 40.2% of women who had preterm labor with intact membrane and was an independent risk factor for intra amniotic inflammation and infection [14]. As ASOM has been shown to release prostaglandins in term pregnancies, it may increase the likelihood of intra amniotic inflammation and infection. A recent Cochrane review [15] suggested that the women who had membrane sweep were more likely to have spontaneous onset of labor but found no clear difference in unassisted vaginal births. A recent randomized controlled study [18] has concluded that the difference in onset of spontaneous labor in those who underwent a “membrane sweep” was only 15%
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