No abstract

INTRODUCTION: Preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM) is a significant risk factor for preterm birth, carrying medical, financial and psychological burden. Predicting onset of labor after PPROM can result in timely interventions, including appropriate transfer to tertiary care centers. Ultrasound-measured cervical length can predict preterm delivery in singleton pregnancies with PPROM, but no data exists in twins. Therefore, we sought to determine whether cervical length could predict latency interval in twin pregnancies with PPROM. METHODS: Using the BORN Database, we performed a retrospective study identifying 43 twin pregnancies between 2012-2016 complicated by PPROM at McMaster University, Canada. Cervical length was determined by ultrasound measurement. We then compared our primary outcome, latency to labor in those pregnancies with cervical lengths less than 25 mm to those greater than 25 mm and results were analyzed by Mann-Whitney statistical analysis. Additional secondary measures compared the groups on length of stay, PPROM parameters and neonatal outcomes. RESULTS: We determined that the average latency interval in those twin pregnancies with cervical lengths less than 25 mm is statistically significantly shorter than in those with cervical lengths greater than 25 mm (49.2 vs. 196.0 hours, p=0.035). The average length of stay was also significantly greater in those with longer cervical lengths (5.52 vs. 11.05 days, p=0.03). Potential confounders such as parity, chorionicity, erythromycin or magnesium sulfate did not have any significant effect by ANCOVA regression analysis. CONCLUSION: In those twin pregnancies complicated by PPROM, cervical lengths less than 25 mm are associated with shorter latency intervals, which may prompt critical, timely intervention in this group.