Premature rupture of the membranes at term. Obstetric outcome with oxytocin stimulation in relation to parity and cervical dilatation at admission.

The obstetric outcome in women with premature rupture of the membranes (PROM) at term (greater than 36 weeks gestation) without spontaneous onset of labor (within 2 h after admission) was evaluated prospectively in a joint study at the University Hospital of Lund, Sweden and Kandang Kerbau Hospital, National University of Singapore. After 2 h of observation without uterine contractions, labor was stimulated with oxytocin infusion. 303 patients participated and were classified according to parity (nulliparae-multiparae) and cervical dilatation at admission (less than 2 cm dilated; greater than or equal to 2 cm dilated). No significant race-related differences could be found, except for birthweight. Nulliparae with unfavorable cervix at admission had a high rate of ominous fetal heart rate findings in labor and a high cesarean section rate (19.4%), particularly for failed stimulation of labor. The high cesarean section rate after routine stimulation of labor in nulliparae with unfavorable cervix suggests that a non-intervention approach may be justified in this group. In contrast, the cesarean section rate after stimulation of labor was 3.6% in nulliparae with the cervix dilated 2 cm or more at admission and 4.2% in multiparae and ominous fetal heart rate changes were much less common.