PB 160: Premature Rupture of Membranes Verified Exam Questions
and Answers Latest update 2026/2027
Question:
In the United States, what is a major factor that contributes to perinatal morbidity and mortality?
Answer:
Preterm delivery (approximately 12% of all births)
Question:
Preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) complicates approximately ______% of all
pregnancies in the United States.
Answer:
3%
Question:
What is the difference between PROM and PPROM?
Answer:
PROM = Rupture of membranes before the onset of labor.
- PPROM: Membrane rupture before labor AND before 37 weeks of gestation.
Question:
What are risk factors for PPROM?
Answer:
Intraamniotic infection
- H/o PPROM
- Short cervical length
- 2nd and 3rd trimester bleeding
- Low BMI
- Low socioeconomic status
- Cigarette smoking
- Illicit drug use
- NOTE: PPROM often occurs in the absence of any recognized risk factors or an obvious cause.
Question:
Regardless of obstetric management or clinical presentation, what can you tell patients about the likely
timing of delivery?
Answer:
Birth within 1 week of membrane rupture occurs in at least 1/2 of patients with PPROM. (NOTE:
Latency after membrane rupture is inversely correlated with the gestational age at membrane rupture.)
, Question:
The most significant risks to the fetus after PPROM are complications of prematurity. What are these
complications?
Answer:
Respiratory distress
- Sepsis
- Intraventricular hemorrhage
- Necrotizing enterocolitis
- Neurodevelopmental impairment
- Neonatal white matter damage
Question:
What is generally considered "previable" PPROM?
Answer:
PPROM before 24 weeks gestation.
Question:
What are the most significant maternal complications that occur after previable PROM?
Answer:
Intraamniotic infection
- Endometritis
- Placental abruption
- Retained placenta
Question:
_______% of patients with previable PROM will give birth within the first week and approximately
______% will give birth 2-5 weeks after membrane rupture.
Answer:
40-50%: Give birth w/in 1 week after PPROM
- 70-80%: Give birth w/in 2-5 weeks after PPROM
Question:
How is premature rupture of membranes diagnosed?
Answer:
Most cases of PROM can be diagnosed on the basis of the patient's history and physical examination.
and Answers Latest update 2026/2027
Question:
In the United States, what is a major factor that contributes to perinatal morbidity and mortality?
Answer:
Preterm delivery (approximately 12% of all births)
Question:
Preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) complicates approximately ______% of all
pregnancies in the United States.
Answer:
3%
Question:
What is the difference between PROM and PPROM?
Answer:
PROM = Rupture of membranes before the onset of labor.
- PPROM: Membrane rupture before labor AND before 37 weeks of gestation.
Question:
What are risk factors for PPROM?
Answer:
Intraamniotic infection
- H/o PPROM
- Short cervical length
- 2nd and 3rd trimester bleeding
- Low BMI
- Low socioeconomic status
- Cigarette smoking
- Illicit drug use
- NOTE: PPROM often occurs in the absence of any recognized risk factors or an obvious cause.
Question:
Regardless of obstetric management or clinical presentation, what can you tell patients about the likely
timing of delivery?
Answer:
Birth within 1 week of membrane rupture occurs in at least 1/2 of patients with PPROM. (NOTE:
Latency after membrane rupture is inversely correlated with the gestational age at membrane rupture.)
, Question:
The most significant risks to the fetus after PPROM are complications of prematurity. What are these
complications?
Answer:
Respiratory distress
- Sepsis
- Intraventricular hemorrhage
- Necrotizing enterocolitis
- Neurodevelopmental impairment
- Neonatal white matter damage
Question:
What is generally considered "previable" PPROM?
Answer:
PPROM before 24 weeks gestation.
Question:
What are the most significant maternal complications that occur after previable PROM?
Answer:
Intraamniotic infection
- Endometritis
- Placental abruption
- Retained placenta
Question:
_______% of patients with previable PROM will give birth within the first week and approximately
______% will give birth 2-5 weeks after membrane rupture.
Answer:
40-50%: Give birth w/in 1 week after PPROM
- 70-80%: Give birth w/in 2-5 weeks after PPROM
Question:
How is premature rupture of membranes diagnosed?
Answer:
Most cases of PROM can be diagnosed on the basis of the patient's history and physical examination.
