Amnioinfusion in preterm PROM: effects on amnion and cord histology

Objective: To investigate the effects of transabdominal amnioinfusion (TA) on the histology of amnion (A) and umbilical cord (UC). Study Design: From a cohort of 56 singleton pregnancies with premature rupture of membranes (PROM) at ≤24.6 weeks, we excluded those who did not develop severe oligohydramnios (n=12). Of the 44 patients, 29 consented to TA and 15 declined the procedure. TA was performed with normal saline solution. Result: Women who consented to TA underwent a median of three procedures had a gestational age at PROM of 18.7 weeks and at delivery of 26.1 weeks, with a latency of 50 days. Compared with subjects who declined the procedure, TA had a beneficial effect on clinical variables, mediated primarily by a longer latency. TA was not associated with identifiable effects on the histologic features of A or UC. Conclusion: A and UC histology is not significantly affected by exposure to saline solution even for prolonged periods of time.