Delivery at 34 weeks is more costly than at 35 weeks in pregnancies with premature rupture of membranes.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the relative risks and costs of delivery at 34 vs. 35 weeks with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PROM).

STUDY

DESIGN

Retrospective study of singleton gestations with preterm PROM over a 5-year period. Patients who delivered at 34 vs. 35 weeks were compared.

RESULTS

Sixty-five patients were identified in each group. There were no significant differences in maternal demographics or complications. Direct costs of mother-infant pairs at 34 weeks were significantly higher (dollars 6687 +/- 4273 vs. dollars 4089 +/- 3037, p = 0.0001). Newborn intensive care unit stay was significantly longer for infants born at 34 weeks (8.4 +/- 7.1 vs. 3.5 +/- 4.6 days, p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

There was a significant increase in neonatal interventions, neonatal length of stay and cost for infants delivered at 34 vs. 35 weeks. Prospective data are necessary to evaluate the actual maternal and neonatal morbidity incurred by delay of delivery.