Objective: To evaluate maternal and perinatal outcomes in cases with oligohydramnios after preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) using single deepest pocket (SDP) at the time of diagnosis Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of perinatal outcomes based on SDP measurement at the time of PPROM during the study period 2011 to 2015 at a single institution. The SDP was determined by reviewing archived ultrasound images and reports at the time PPROM was diagnosed. Patients were subsequently divided into two groups, SDP <2cm (n=24) and SDP ≥ 2cm (n=54). Maternal and perinatal outcomes were subsequently compared according to single deepest vertical pocket. The Student's t-test and Chi-squared test were used to compare variables. All p values were expressed as exact values against the null hypothesis.
Results:We identified 78 patients with PPROM between 24 and 34 weeks of pregnancy. A SDP <2cm in the setting of PPROM was associated with earlier gestational age at time of membrane rupture, earlier delivery, increased respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), lower Apgar score at one minute, and decreased birth weight. We believe that this association is the result of gestational age itself rather than a smaller single deepest vertical pocket.
Conclusion:The presence of a SDP <2cm in the setting of PPROM is not associated with adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. SDP was not shown to be a good predictive marker of composite perinatal morbidity. Larger prospective studies, however, should be performed to allow for a multivariate analysis.