To study the effect of premature rupture of membranes and oligohydramnios before 20 weeks of gestation (PROM20) on acute respiratory morbidity and on short-term outcome in infants with a gestational age≥24 weeks.

A historic cohort study was performed of all infants born after PROM20 with a gestational age ≥24 weeks between 1990 and 1999. Control infants were matched for year of birth, gestational age, and birth weight.

PROM20 infants had an increased acute respiratory morbidity (higher ventilator settings and increased incidence of hypoxemia, hypercapnia, and pulmonary hypertension) and a trend to more air leaks. Although not statistically different, PROM20 infants had more complications (neonatal survival, 68% vs 95%; severe intracranial hemorrhage, 31% vs 6%; chronic lung disease in surviving infants, 46% vs 17%). The relative risk for combined morbidity (death, intracranial hemorrhage, chronic lung disease) was increased (3.0, P = .019) when compared with matched control infants. However, 31% of the surviving PROM20 infants were discharged without apparent morbidity.

Expectant treatment in women with PROM20 and present neonatal intensive care has improved the survival of PROM20 infants despite severe initial respiratory failure. However, chronic morbidity still occurred. (J Pediatr 2002;140:177-82)