The Role of Ultrasound Indicators in Managing Pregnant Women with Premature Rupture of Membranes

Background & Objective: Premature Rupture of Membranes (PROM) occurs in 2 to 3% of pregnancies. Previous evidence suggests that ultrasound markers can be used to manage PPROM. The present study was conducted with aim to investigate the role of ultrasound markers in managing pregnant women with PROM. Materials & Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2022-2024 on 99 pregnant women diagnosed with PROM at gestational ages of 24 to 34 weeks who referred to tertiary hospitals. For all participants, ultrasound parameters including biometry, uterine artery Doppler, umbilical cord and Middle Cerebral Artery (MCA), Biophysical Profile (BPP), and Amniotic Fluid Index (AFI) were measured at the beginning of admission and repeated twice a week. Maternal and neonatal outcomes were recorded in a researcher-made checklist. All patient information was analyzed using SPSS (version 24) and Chi-square test (for correlation between qualitative variables) and T-test (for correlation between quantitative variables). P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age of pregnant women was 29.78±6.84 years, with a mean gestational age of 31.22±4.23 weeks. The route of delivery was cesarean section in 59 (59.6%) women. It was also found that there was a reverse significant relationship between the umbilical artery index and first minute (P=0.029) and fifth minute (P=0.043) Apgar score. Conclusion: In pregnant women with PROM, the ultrasound index of the umbilical artery can be used for neonatal outcome management.