Twenty‐four versus 48 hours of expectant management in the setting of premature rupture of membranes at term among women with a prior cesarean delivery

Objectives Compare two approaches of expectant management in the setting of term premature rupture of membranes (PROM) among women with prior cesarean delivery. Methods A retrospective study conducted in a tertiary care center during 2006 to 2017, including primiparous women with singleton pregnancy and a prior low‐transverse cesarean delivery who presented with term PROM and requested trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC). Outcomes were compared between the two campuses at our center: campus A enabled expectant management up to 48 hours following PROM and campus B enabled up to 24 hours after PROM. Results A total of 158 women met the inclusion criteria and were divided into two groups. Maternal characteristics of the two groups were similar. In campus B, the rate of oxytocin administration was significantly higher as compared with campus A (46.6% versus 26.0%, P = 0.01). The rate of successful TOLAC was similar between the groups (84.0% versus 84.5%, P = 0.96). Rates of chorioamnionitis, uterine rupture, postpartum hemorrhage, recurrent hospitalization, and Apg scores did not differ between the groups. Conclusion Expectant management up to 48 hours in women with TOLAC presenting with term PROM was associated with a lower rate of induction of labor and similar maternal and neonatal outcomes. Synopsis Expectant management up to 48 hours in women with prior cesarean delivery presenting with term premature rupture of membranes can be a safe option under certain circumstances.