Outpatient Versus Inpatient Management of Preterm Prelabor Rupture of Membranes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

( Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand . 2024;103:2147-2162. doi:10.1111/aogs.14903) The study examined outcomes of outpatient versus inpatient management of preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM). This condition affects ∼3% of pregnancies and accounts for nearly one-third of preterm births. PPROM is associated with a high risk of both neonatal (mortality and severe morbidity, including respiratory distress syndrome, infections, and neurological complications) and maternal (infection, placental abruption, umbilical cord prolapse) risks. Despite its prevalence, there is no consensus on the optimal management strategy for PPROM, with inpatient care traditionally being the standard approach. However, increasing interest in outpatient management has prompted a need for evidence comparing its safety and effectiveness.