Clinical effectiveness of a new cervical indwelling catheter in the management of premature rupture of the membranes: a Japanese collaborative study.

The aim of this multiinstitutional study was to evaluate a new cervical indwelling catheter in 84 patients with premature rupture of the membranes at less than 33 weeks' gestation. The average time of insertion of the catheter was 29.1 weeks' gestation, at an average of 2.0 days after rupture, and was left in place for an average of 6.5 days. The mean birth weight was 1417 gm. The mortality rate and the incidence of respiratory distress syndrome were 5.7% and 11.9%, respectively. Amniotic fluid culture was positive in 39.1% of patients before catheter insertion and only 4.3% at the time of delivery. Infection was noted in only four of 84 infants. The incidence of infection was very low in those treated for 3 days or more after catheter insertion.