The Value of Amniopatch in Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes

All patients were started on a regimen of hospital bed rest and received antibiotic prophylaxis consisting of ampicillin 2g IV every 6hours for 48 hours, followed by erythromycin 250mg every 6hours for 5days . Antenatal corticosteroids were given in the form of dexamethasone 8mg intramuscular every 12hours for 48 hours i.e. in four divided doses.

Fifty to two hundred ml of normal saline was infused to create an adequate pocket in which the infusion needle can be stabilized. After injection of normal saline, alternate infusions of 20 mL of platelets, normal saline (which does not contain Calcium, needed for the clotting process), and 20 mL of (FFP). The infused substances were warmed to a temperature of 37°c. Avoiding contact between the blood products prevents clotting in the lines.

During infusion, the fetal heart rate as well as the accumulation of amniotic fluid was monitored by ultrasound. Usually a total of around 60-80 mL of platelets, 100-150 mL of FFP and 100-150 mL of amnioinfusion fluid was used throughout the procedure

Inclusion criteria

• healthy pregnant women
• gestational age of 24 to 34 weeks (calculated by the sure dates of the last menstrual period and confirmed by early 1st trimesteric ultrasound).

All women carried a normal healthy singleton fetus

Exclusion criteria

• established preterm labor at admission
• those with symptoms or signs suggestive of clinical chorioamnionitis.
• women with uncontrolled medical disorder e.g. severe hypertension, uncontrolled diabetes, chronic renal impairment
• women with vaginal bleeding regardless its cause.
• Pregnancies associated with major congenital fetal malformations
• placental insufficiency or anomalies
• anterior position of the placenta
• iatrogenic PPROM