Can an ultrasound detect premature rupture of membranes?

Written by Zhang Lu

Obstetrics

Updated on September 16, 2024

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Premature rupture of membranes (PROM) refers to the rupture of amniotic fluid before labor. The most common diagnostic method for PROM is based on the clinical symptoms of the patient, mainly intermittent vaginal discharge. PROM can be confirmed using pH test strips specific for this condition. Ultrasound can be used as an auxiliary diagnostic method for PROM because most pregnant women with PROM will show a decreased amount of amniotic fluid during an ultrasound. However, the specificity of using ultrasound to determine PROM is not strong. Although the membranes may rupture, amniotic fluid can still be continuously produced, so some pregnant women may still have a normal amount of amniotic fluid during an ultrasound. Therefore, in most cases of PROM, a reduction in amniotic fluid can be observed through ultrasound, but there are cases where the amniotic fluid level appears normal. In such instances, it's essential to analyze the patient's clinical symptoms.

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Written by Yue Hua

Obstetrics and Gynecology

46sec

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What are the risks of premature rupture of membranes?

After premature rupture of membranes, the amniotic cavity is directly connected to the woman's vagina at this time, which primarily poses the risk of infection. If the fetus becomes infected, it is easy to lead to sepsis after birth, resulting in an increased mortality rate for the fetus. Additionally, it can cause bleeding in the fetus. Moreover, for the mother, there is a likely risk of placental abruption, which is due to the reduced abdominal tension after membrane rupture, making placental abruption more likely to occur. Furthermore, the mother is also prone to infections, which can easily lead to chorioamnionitis under these circumstances.

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Written by Zhao Li Li

Obstetrics

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Is the risk of infection high with premature rupture of membranes?

In general, after premature rupture of membranes, there is still a significant risk of intrauterine infection. Normally, after premature rupture of membranes, it is necessary to clearly determine whether the development size of the embryo inside the uterine cavity is mature, as well as the specific amount of premature rupture of membranes and vaginal discharge. If the rupture of membranes is severe and there is a large amount of amniotic fluid flowing out of the vagina, it generally may lead to a reduction in amniotic fluid and significantly increase the risk of infection. After confirming premature rupture of membranes, it is necessary to actively use antibiotics for symptomatic treatment to prevent infections, promote fetal lung maturity inside the uterine cavity, and reduce the risk of delayed lung function development in the fetus after childbirth.

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Written by Liu Wei Jie

Obstetrics

51sec

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Premature rupture of membranes causes

The causes of premature rupture of membranes, or premature rupture of membranes, occur before labor when the membranes break. Normally, the membranes should rupture during labor when the cervix is fully dilated. Any rupture before this is called premature rupture of membranes. The main causes of premature rupture of membranes are maternal infections or cephalopelvic disproportion. Infections can cause the membranes to become fragile and thin, and movements afterwards may lead to premature rupture. Another scenario is cephalopelvic disproportion, where the fetus is relatively large and the pelvis is small, leading to changes in amniotic fluid pressure, which can also result in premature rupture of membranes.

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Written by Zhang Lu

Obstetrics

1min 6sec

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Will premature rupture of membranes continuously cause leaking of fluid?

Premature rupture of membranes refers to the rupture of the membranes before labor, characterized by intermittent discharge of amniotic fluid from the vagina. To diagnose premature rupture of membranes, it is necessary to combine the patient's clinical symptoms with objective examinations. However, this does not mean that amniotic fluid will continuously leak after the membranes rupture. The leakage of amniotic fluid in cases of premature rupture of membranes is intermittent, primarily because many patients choose to rest in bed after the rupture. When lying flat, the amniotic fluid will not continuously leak out and may come out in spurts at times. Therefore, the belief that amniotic fluid will continuously leak following premature rupture of membranes is incorrect; intermittent leakage can also indicate a rupture. If premature rupture of membranes cannot be diagnosed based on the vaginal discharge alone, pH test strips may be used to test the fluid. If the pH test strip changes color, it can confirm the diagnosis of premature rupture of membranes.

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Written by Du Rui Xia

Obstetrics

57sec

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How long can premature rupture of membranes last?

When premature rupture of membranes occurs, it can last up to 24 hours. If labor has not commenced 24 hours after rupture, pregnancy termination becomes necessary, and one can either induce labor to facilitate a vaginal delivery or opt for a cesarean section. For ruptures occurring between the 28th and 35th weeks of pregnancy, as the baby's lungs are not yet fully developed, it is crucial to administer medication promptly to help mature the fetal lungs and extend the gestational period as much as possible. Once the fetal lung development is adequate, pregnancy should be terminated in a timely manner. For cases of premature rupture of membranes occurring after 36 weeks of pregnancy, where fetal development is generally mature, pregnancy can be terminated more promptly.