Preterm Prelabour Rupture of

Membranes
Greentop Guideline No. 44
November 2006 I Minor amendment October 2010

Preterm Prelabour Rupture of Membranes

This is the first edition of this guideline, which was reviewed in 2010 and has received minor amendments
to section 4 and section 5.

1.

Aim

The aim of this guideline is to make recommendations relating to the diagnosis, investigation and
management of preterm prelabour rupture of membranes (PPROM). The guideline evaluates various
antenatal tests in helping to predict the fetus at risk from intrauterine infection.The role of prophylactic
antibiotics, steroids and tocolytic agents and the optimum gestation to deliver women with pregnancies
complicated by PPROM is examined and recommendations are provided based on published evidence.

2.

Background

PPROM complicates only 2% of pregnancies but is associated with 40% of preterm deliveries and can
result in significant neonatal morbidity and mortality.13 The three causes of neonatal death associated with
PPROM are prematurity,sepsis and pulmonary hypoplasia.Women with intrauterine infection deliver earlier
than non-infected women and infants born with sepsis have a mortality four times higher than those
without sepsis.4 In addition, there are maternal risks associated with chorioamnionitis.
There is evidence demonstrating an association between ascending infection from the lower genital tract
and PPROM.In patients with PPROM,about one-third of pregnancies have positive amniotic fluid cultures5,6
and studies have shown that bacteria have the ability to cross intact membranes.7,8

3.

Identification and assessment of evidence

This guideline was developed using the standard methodology for producing RCOG Green-top Guidelines.
The Cochrane Library and Medline were searched for the following terms in the title or abstract:preterm
prelabour rupture of membranes,amnioinfusion,sealing amniotic membranes,intraamniotic infection,
Nitrazine,amniocentesis,antenatal corticosteroids and tocolytics. Previous guidelines on this subject
were obtained using the sites recommended in the RCOG Clinical Governance Advice No. 1c.9
The recommendations given in this guideline have been graded according to the guidance for the
development of RCOG Green-top Guidelines.

4.

How is the diagnosis of PPROM best achieved?

The diagnosis of spontaneous rupture of the membranes is best achieved by maternal

history followed by a sterile speculum examination.

Ultrasound examination is useful in some cases to help confirm the diagnosis.

The presence of a pool of fluid in the vagina at sterile speculum examimation is highly suggestive of
amniorrhexis.A range of tests have been used to confirm membrane rupture; the most widely used has
been the Nitrazine test, which detects pH change.10,11 Other tests which have been used include
microscopic examination of the vaginal fluid for the characteristic ferning of the crystalline pattern of
dried amniotic fluid owing to its sodium chloride and protein content,12,13 examination for lanugo hair12
and fetal epithelial cells stained with Nile blue.14

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A study evaluating the various tests in the diagnosis of membrane rupture examined 100
consecutive women in labour with either intact or ruptured membranes.15 The best results were
obtained with the Nitrazine and ferning tests,with a sensitivity of 90%.The false-positive rate was
17% for the Nitrazine test, owing to contamination with urine, blood or semen, and 6% for the
ferning test, owing to contamination with cervical mucus.A similar sensitivity and false-positive
rate was achieved by obtaining a history of rapid passage of fluid from the vagina. Ultrasound
examination demonstrating oligohydramnios is also used to help confirm the diagnosis of
spontaneous rupture of the membranes.1619 AmniSure (AmniSure International LLC, Boston,
MA, USA), a rapid immunoassay, has been shown to be accurate in the diagnosis of ruptured
membranes with a sensitivity and specificity of 98.9% and 100%, respectively.20
The diagnosis is made by a history suggestive of spontaneous rupture of membranes followed by
a sterile speculum examination demonstrating pooling of fluid in the posterior vaginal fornix; a
Nitrazine test is not necessary. Digital vaginal examination is best avoided unless there is a strong
suspicion that the woman may be in labour.This is because micro-organisms may be transported
from the vagina into the cervix leading to intrauterine infection,prostaglandin release and preterm
labour. Indeed, a retrospective study reported that the latency interval between spontaneous
rupture of membranes and delivery in those who had a digital vaginal examination was significantly shorter than if a sterile speculum examination only was performed.21

Evidence
level IIb

Evidence
level IIb

4.1 What antenatal tests should be performed?

Women should be observed for signs of clinical chorioamnionitis.

Weekly high vaginal swab need not be performed.

It is not necessary to carry out weekly maternal full blood count or C-reactive protein
because the sensitivity of these tests in the detection of intrauterine infection is low.
Cardiotogography is useful and indeed fetal tachycardia is used in the definition of
clinical chorioamnionitis. Biophysical profile score and Doppler velocimetry can be
carried out, but women should be informed that these tests are of limited value in
predicting fetal infection.

B

The criteria for the diagnosis of clinical chorioamnionitis include maternal pyrexia, tachycardia,
leucocytosis, uterine tenderness, offensive vaginal discharge and fetal tachycardia. During observation, the
woman should be regularly examined for such signs of intrauterine infection and an abnormal parameter
or a combination of them may indicate intrauterine infection.The frequency of maternal temperature,
pulse and fetal heart rate auscultation should be between every 4 and 8 hours.16,17,22
Maternal pyrexia, offensive vaginal discharge and fetal tachycardia indicate clinical chorioamnionitis. There is variation in the literature regarding the accuracy of the laboratory tests of
leucocytosis and raised C-reactive protein in the prediction of chorioamnionitis.The sensitivities
and false-positive rates for leucocytosis in the detection of clinical chorioamnionitis range from
29% to 47% and from 5% to 18%, respectively.16,22 The specificity of C-reactive protein is 38
55%.16,23,24 Although weekly culture of swabs from the vagina is often performed as part of the
clinical management of women with PPROM, the data evaluating this practice do not show
conclusively that it is beneficial. It has been shown that positive genital tract cultures predict
53% of positive amniotic fluid cultures with a false-positive rate of 25%.25

Evidence
level IIa

There have also been publications describing non-invasive antenatal fetal assessments with the aim of
differentiating fetuses that are not infected and will benefit from remaining in utero from those who are

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at risk of infection or infected and need to be delivered. Several studies have examined the value of the
biophysical profile score,fetal tachycardia,non-reactive non-stress test and Doppler studies of the placental
and fetal circulation in the prediction of intrauterine infection. As with maternal assessment, there is a
wide range of true and false-positive results, which may partly be a consequence of the different endpoints
used for the diagnosis of intrauterine infection such as clinical chorioamnionitis, histological chorioamnionitis or positive amniotic fluid cultures.
Abnormal biophysical profile scores and increased systolic/diastolic ratios in the umbilical artery
have been shown to be markers of intrauterine infection.26 The true and false-positive rates for
an abnormal biophysical profile score in the prediction of clinical chorioamnionitis range from
30% to 80% and from 2% to 9%, respectively.2731 Another data set using positive amniotic fluid
and positive fetal blood cultures as endpoints for infection found that the biophysical profile
score or Doppler studies of the placental or fetal circulation did not provide accurate distinction
between infected and non-infected cases.18,32 Fetal tachycardia predicts 2040% of cases of
intrauterine infection with a false-positive rate of about 3%.16,18,33 Cardiotocography is useful
because a fetal tachycardia, if present, may represent a late sign of infection and is frequently
used in the clinical definition of chorioamnionitis in studies.

Evidence
level IIa

There are no randomised controlled trials to support the premise that pregnancy outcome is improved by
the use of frequent biophysical or Doppler assessment.The disparity in the literature evaluating these noninvasive tests of fetal wellbeing suggests that, although some studies have shown benefit, overall the tests
are of limited value in differentiating between fetuses with and without infection.

4.2 What is the role of amniocentesis?

Although there are data documenting an association between subclinical intrauterine
infection and adverse neonatal outcome, the role of amniocentesis in improving
outcome remains to be determined. There is insufficient evidence to recommend the
use of amniocentesis in the diagnosis of intrauterine infection.

Intrauterine infection, as defined by positive amniotic fluid cultures, is found in 36% of women
with PPROM.Most infections are subclinical without obvious signs of chorioamnionitis.5 Positive
amniotic fluid cultures increase the risks of preterm delivery,neonatal sepsis,respiratory distress
syndrome,chronic lung disease,periventricular leukomalacia, intraventricular haemorrhage and
cerebral palsy.3436

Evidence
level IIa

Current evidence suggests that infection is a cause rather than a consequence of amniorrhexis.37
Amniocentesis has the potential to detect subclinical infection before the onset of maternal
signs of chorioamnionitis and before the onset of fetal sepsis,allowing appropriate intervention
such as administration of antibiotics in infected cases and/or delivery depending on the
gestation, and expectant management for patients with negative amniotic fluid cultures. Rapid
tests on amniotic fluid such as Gram stain and assay of cytokines such as interleukins 6 and
18,36,38,39 which indicate intrauterine infection, may be performed.

Evidence
level IIa

Although prophylactic antibiotic therapy in cases of PPROM has been shown to have benefits,proponents
for clinical management using amniocentesis argue that treatment should be targeted to appropriate
women because a potential adverse effect of prolonged antibiotic therapy in PPROM includes superinfection with virulent organisms.40 It remains to be determined in future studies whether amniocentesis
improves outcomes.Amniocentesis should be performed in specialised units.

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5.

Management

5.1 Treatment
5.1.1 Are prophylactic antibiotics recommended?
Erythromycin should be given for 10 days following the diagnosis of PPROM.
Twenty-two trials involving over 6000 women with PPROM before 37 weeks of gestation were
included in a meta-analysis.41 The use of antibiotics following PPROM is associated with a statistically significant reduction in chorioamnionitis (RR 0.57; 95% CI 0.370.86). There was a
significant reduction in the numbers of babies born within 48 hours (RR 0.71;95% CI 0.580.87)
and 7 days (RR 0.80; 95% CI 0.710.90). Neonatal infection was significantly reduced in the
babies whose mothers received antibiotics (RR 0.68; 95% CI 0.530.87). There was also a
significant reduction in the number of babies with an abnormal cerebral ultrasound scan prior
to discharge from hospital (RR 0.82; 95% CI 0.680.98).There was no significant reduction in
perinatal mortality, although there was a trend for reduction in the treatment group.

Evidence
level Ia

There was variation in the choice of antibiotics used and the duration of therapy in the studies examined
in the meta-analysis.41 Ten trials tested broad-ppectrum penicillin, either alone or in combination, five
tested macrolide antibiotics (erythromycin) either alone or in combination and one trial tested clindamycin
and gentamycin.The duration of treatment varied between two doses and 10 days.Any penicillin (except
co-amoxiclav) or erythromycin versus placebo was associated with a significant reduction in the numbers
of babies born within 48 hours and who had positive blood cultures. Co-amoxiclav versus placebo was
associated with an increase in the numbers of babies born with necrotising enterocolitis.
This review shows that routine antibiotic administration reduces maternal and neonatal
morbidity.Antibiotic therapy also delays delivery, thereby allowing sufficient time for prophylactic prenatal corticosteroids to take effect.The data also showed that prenatal co-amoxiclav
increased the risk of neonatal necrotising enterocolitis and this antibiotic is best avoided.
Erythromycin or penicillin appears the antibiotic of choice. Erythromycin may be used in
women who are allergic to penicillin.

Evidence
level Ia

If group B streptococcus is isolated in cases of PPROM, antibiotics should be given in line with
the recommendation for routine intrapartum prophylaxis.As indicated in the RCOG Green-top
Guideline No.36:Prevention of early onset neonatal group B streptococcal disease,42 penicillin
should be administered, or clindamycin in women who are allergic to penicillin.

Evidence
level IV

5.1.2 What is the role of antenatal corticosteroids?

Antenatal corticosteroids should be administered in women with PPROM.
A meta-analysis of 15 randomised controlled trials involving more than 1400 women with
preterm rupture of the membranes demonstrated that antenatal corticosteroids reduce the risk
of respiratory distress syndrome (RR 0.56; 95% CI 0.4670), intraventricular haemorrhage (RR
0.47;95% CI 0.310.70) and necrotising enterocolitis (RR 0.21;95% CI 0.050.82).They may also
reduce the risk of neonatal death (RR 0.68; 95% CI 0.431.07).They do not appear to increase
the risk of infection in either mother (RR 0.86; 95% CI 0.611.20) or baby (RR 1.05; 95% CI
0.661.68).43

Evidence
level Ia

As stated in the RCOG Green-top Guideline No.7: Antenatal corticosteroids to reduce neonatal
morbidity,44 indications for antenatal corticosteroid therapy include women with PPROM between 24
and 34 weeks of gestation.

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5.1.3 Should tocolytic agents be used?

Tocolysis in women with PPROM is not recommended because this treatment does
not significantly improve perinatal outcome.

5.1.4 Prophylactic tocolysis

Three randomised studies on a total of 235 patients with PPROM reported that the proportion
of women remaining undelivered 10 days after membrane rupture were not significantly higher
in those receiving tocolysis compared with those receiving none.4547

Evidence
level Ib

A retrospective casecontrol study showed that tocolysis after PPROM did not increase the
interval between membrane rupture and delivery or reduce neonatal morbidity.48

Evidence
level IIa

5.1.5 Therapeutic tocolysis

A randomised trial involving 30 women demonstrated that delivery can be inhibited for 24 hours by
intravenous ritodrine.49 After 24 hours there was no difference in the duration of pregnancy in either group.
A randomised study involving 109 women showed that, for premature labour associated with premature
rupture of the membranes after 28 weeks of gestatation, there were no significant differences between
treatment groups in intrauterine time after the onset of regular contractions.50 The results of another
randomised study of 79 patients with contractions following PPROM did not suggest that there is benefit
of tocolysis in terms of prolonging the interval to delivery or in reducing perinatal morbidity or mortality.51
A casecontrol study involving 193 women found that aggressive tocolysis after PPROM did not increase
latency or decrease neonatal morbidity compared with either limited tocolysis or no tocolysis at all.19
Tocolytic treatment for women in preterm labour is the subject of RCOG Green-top Guideline No. 1(B):
Tocolytic drugs for women in preterm labour.52
In the absence of clear evidence that tocolysis improves neonatal outcome following PPROM, it is
reasonable not to use it.Additionally,with PPROM in the presence of uterine contractions,it is possible that
tocolysis could have adverse effects, such as delaying delivery from an infected environment, since there
is an association between intrauterine infection, prostaglandin and cytokine release and delivery.

5.2 When is the appropriate time to deliver the baby?

Delivery should be considered at 34 weeks of gestation. Where expectant management is considered beyond this gestation, women should be informed of the
increased risk of chorioamnionitis and the decreased risk of respiratory problems in
the neonate.

The decision to deliver or manage expectantly in cases of PPROM requires an assessment of the risks
related to the development of intrauterine infection in those pregnancies managed expectantly compared
with the gestational age-related risks of prematurity in pregnancies delivered earlier.
A retrospective study examining 430 women with PPROM demonstrated that composite
neonatal minor morbidity such as hyperbilirubinaemia and transient tachypnoea of the newborn
was significantly higher among pregnancies delivered at 34 weeks of gestation or less compared
with those delivered at 36 weeks.53 Composite major neonatal morbidity including respiratory
distress syndrome and intraventricular haemorrhage was not significantly different.

Evidence
level III

A randomised trial assigning 93 women with PPROM between 32 and 36 weeks and 6 days of
gestation to either immediate or delayed delivery showed that the incidence of respiratory
distress syndrome, intraventricular haemorrhage and confirmed neonatal sepsis was not signif-

Evidence
level Ib

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icantly different in the two groups.54 Although in the expectantly managed group the 27.7%
incidence of chorioamniotis was higher than the 10.9% in the induced group,this difference did
not reach statistical significance.

Evidence
level Ib

In another report, 129 women with PPROM between 30 and 34 weeks of gestation were
randomly assigned to either immediate delivery or expectant management.55 The mean
gestational age at delivery was 31.7 weeks in the immediate delivery group and 32 weeks in the
group managed expectantly.Although the incidence of chorioamniotis was significantly less in
the immediate delivery group (2%) compared with the expectant management group (15%;
P < 0.05), there were no significant differences between the groups with regard to neonatal
morbidity.

Evidence
level Ib

In a prospective randomised study of 120 women with PPROM between 34 and 37 weeks of
gestation, the expectantly managed group had a higher incidence of chorioamnionitis (16%)
compared with the immediate delivery group (2%; P < 0.05).The incidence of sepsis was 5% in
the expectantly managed group and 0% in the immediate delivery group, but this was not statistically significant.There was no difference in the risk of respiratory distress syndrome.56

Evidence
level Ib

A retrospective series examining neonatal outcome following cases with PPROM between 32 and 36 weeks
showed that the specific gestation for reduced morbidity was 34 weeks.57 The incidence of respiratory
distress syndrome and the length of hospital stay were reduced in infants delivered after 34 weeks of
gestation.The incidence of respiratory distress syndrome was 22.5% and 5.8% at 33 and 34 weeks, respectively. Although the incidence of RDS beyond 34 weeks was relatively low, the condition affected infants
into the 36th week, with incidences of 10.4% and 1.5% at 35 and 36 weeks, respectively.
Many studies have demonstrated benefits of conservative management for gestations of less than 34 weeks,
whereas the management of pregnancies complicated by PPROM between 34 and 37 weeks continues to
be a contentious issue.56 Proponents of delivery at 34 weeks argue that, because of the lack of significant
neonatal benefit with prolongation of the pregnancy until 37 weeks, early delivery is justified to reduce the
risk of chorioamnionitis. Data from existing studies call for further research to elucidate the optimal
gestational age at delivery for women with PPROM between 34 and 37 weeks of gestation.A large randomised
trial of induction compared with expectant management of women with PPROM between these gestations
is needed.There are currently two randomised controlled trials comparing intentional delivery versus conservative management in women with PPROM between 32 and 35 weeks of gestation.58,59
Until the results of these trials become available, published data question the benefit of continued
expectant management beyond 34 weeks of gestation.There is little evidence that intentional delivery
after 34 weeks adversely affects neonatal outcome.There is a suggestion from these studies that expectant
management beyond 34 weeks is associated with an increased risk of chorioamnionitis.A longer latency
interval with expectant management may allow time for clinical chorioamnionitis, which either is
subclinical at the time of membrane rupture or develops with ascending bacterial infection subsequent
to membrane rupture.
A Cochrane review of planned early birth versus expectant management for women with PPROM before
37 weeks of gestation was published in 2010.The conclusions were that there is insufficient evidence to
guide clinical practice on the benefits and harms of immediate delivery compared with expectant
management.60

5.3 Can women be monitored at home?

In a randomised study of home versus hospital management,outcomes were comparable in the two groups
with a similar latency period and gestational age at delivery.16 There were no significant differences in the

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frequencies of chorioamnionitis, respiratory distress syndrome or neonatal sepsis. However, only 18% of
the patients were eligible and agreed to randomisation.The patients were randomised after 72 hours in
hospital and 57% and 74% of those in the home and hospital groups, respectively, had an amniocentesis
for Gram stain and culture.This study does not support routine home management in patients with PPROM
but supports rigorous individual selection of women for this treatment.
There are insufficient data to make recommendations for home and outpatient monitoring
rather than continued hospital admission in women with PPROM.The decision to allow the
woman home should incorporate the finding that women presenting with PPROM and
subclinical intrauterine infection deliver earlier than non-infected patients. It would be
considered reasonable to keep the woman in hospital for at least 48 hours before a decision is
made to allow her to go home. This method of management should be individualised and
restricted to certain women. Women should be instructed to take regular temperature
recordings at home every 48 hours.

Evidence
level III

5.4. Should amnioinfusion in labour be carried out?

Amnioinfusion during labour is not recommended in women with preterm rupture
of membranes.
PPROM places the fetus at risk of umbilical cord compression. Amnioinfusion has been
described as a method of preventing this complication.Amnioinfusion during labour has been
the subject of a Cochrane review,61 which examined one randomised controlled trial involving
66 women with spontaneous rupture of membranes between 26 and 35 weeks of gestation
who received amnioinfusion during labour.62 The results showed no significant differences
between amnioinfusion and no amnioinfusion for caesarean section, low Apgar scores and
neonatal death.The implication is that there is insufficient evidence to guide clinical practice
concerning the use of amnioinfusion.

Evidence
level Ib

5.5 What is the role of transabdominal amnioinfusion in the prevention of pulmonary hypoplasia?
There is insufficient evidence to recommend amnioinfusion in very preterm PPROM
as a method to prevent pulmonary hypoplasia.

A published trial of 65 women with PPROM between 24 and 33 weeks of gestation who were
randomised to amnioinfusion or expectant management showed that the risk of postnatal death
from pulmonary hypoplasia was similar in both groups.63

Evidence
level Ib

Another casecontrol study involving 24 women reported no difference in the incidence of

pulmonary hypoplasia between controls and treated women.64

Evidence
level IIa

Another study involving 71 women with PPROM before 26 weeks of gestation demonstrated
that the percentage of intrauterine fetal survival was higher in the treated group than in the
control group (64.8% versus 32.3%; P < 0.01).65

Evidence
level IIa

A randomised controlled trial is under way comparing expectant management with serial amnioinfusions
in women with early second-trimester PPROM.66

5.6 What is the role of fibrin glue in the sealing of chorioamniotic membranes to prevent pulmonary
hypoplasia?
There is insufficient evidence to recommend fibrin sealants as routine treatment for
second-trimester oligohydramnios caused by PPROM.

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There are publications involving small numbers of women with midtrimester PPROM describing
transvaginal or transabdominal injection of fibrin into the amniotic fluid with the aim of sealing
the membranes.6769 The amniopatch resulted in an increase in amniotic fluid volume in some
cases. Larger studies are needed examining neonatal outcome before this treatment can be
recommended as routine practice.

6.

Evidence
level III

Possible audit topics

Proportion of women with PPROM receiving erythromycin for 10 days.
Proportion of women with PPROM receiving a complete course of antenatal corticosteroids.
Proportion of women with PPROM being delivered at 34 weeks of gestation.
Proportion of women with PPROM delivered after 34 weeks of gestation with documented advice of
increased risk of chorioamnionitis and decreased risk of neonatal respiratory problems.

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35. Yoon BH, Romero R, Jun JK, Park KH, Park JD, Ghezzi F, et al.
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36. Yoon BH, Park CW, Chaiorapongsa T. Intrauterine infection
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38. Jacobsson B, Holst RM, Mattsby-Baltzer I, Nikolaitchouk N,
Wennerholm UB, Hagberg H. Interleukin-18 in cervical
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39. Coultrip LL, Grossman JH. Evaluation of rapid diagnostic
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cavity. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1992;167:123142.
40. Blackwell SC, Berry SM. Role of amniocentesis for the
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41. Kenyon S, Boulvain M, Neilson J.Antibiotics for preterm
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42. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Greentop Guideline No. 36: Prevention of early onset neonatal
group B streptococcal disease. London: RCOG; 2003.
43. Harding JE, Pang J, Knight DB, Liggins GC. Do antenatal
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48. Jazayeri A, Jazayeri MK, Sutkin G.Tocolysis does not improve

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APPENDIX
Clinical guidelines are:systematically developed statements which assist clinicians and patients in making
decisions about appropriate treatment for specific conditions. Each guideline is systematically developed
using a standardised methodology.Exact details of this process can be found inClinical Governance Advice
No 1: Guidance for the development of RCOG green-top guidelines (available on the RCOG website at
www.rcog.org.uk/guidelines).These recommendations are not intended to dictate an exclusive course of
management or treatment.They must be evaluated with reference to individual patient needs, resources
and limitations unique to the institution and variations in local populations. It is hoped that this process
of local ownership will help to incorporate these guidelines into routine practice.Attention is drawn to
areas of clinical uncertainty where further research may be indicated.
The evidence used in this guideline was graded using the scheme below and the recommendations
formulated in a similar fashion with a standardised grading scheme.

Classification of evidence levels

Ia

Evidence obtained from meta-analysis

of randomised controlled trials.

Ib

Evidence obtained from at least one

randomised controlled trial.

IIa

Evidence obtained from at least one

well-designed controlled study without
randomisation.

IIb

Evidence obtained from at least one

other type of well-designed quasiexperimental study.

III

Evidence obtained from well-designed

non-experimental descriptive studies,
such as comparative studies,
correlation studies and case studies.

IV

Evidence obtained from expert

committee reports or opinions and/or
clinical experience of respected
authorities.

Grades of recommendations

Requires at least one randomised controlled

trial as part of a body of literature of overall
good quality and consistency addressing the
specific recommendation. (Evidence levels
Ia, Ib)

Requires the availability of well controlled

clinical studies but no randomised clinical
trials on the topic of recommendations.
(Evidence levels IIa, IIb, III)

Requires evidence obtained from expert

committee reports or opinions and/or
clinical experiences of respected authorities.
Indicates an absence of directly applicable
clinical studies of good quality. (Evidence
level IV)

Good practice point

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Recommended best practice based on the

clinical experience of the guideline
development group.

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

This guideline was produced on behalf of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists by
Dr S G M Carroll FRCOG, Dublin, Ireland
and peer-reviewed by
Dr N C Smith FRCOG; Dr Devender Roberts MRCOG; Ms Sara Kenyon; Royal College of Midwives; British Association of
Perinatal Medicine; Professor D J Taylor FRCOG; Mr Jonathan Morris; Professor David Edwards; Mr John Wyatt; RCOG
Consumers Forum.
The final version is the responsibility of the Guidelines Committee of the RCOG.
The guideline review process will commence in 2013 unless evidence requires earlier review.

DISCLAIMER
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists produces guidelines as an educational aid to good clinical practice.
They present recognised methods and techniques of clinical practice, based on published evidence, for consideration by
obstetricians and gynaecologists and other relevant health professionals.The ultimate judgement regarding a particular
clinical procedure or treatment plan must be made by the doctor or other attendant in the light of clinical data presented
by the patient and the diagnostic and treatment options available.
This means that RCOG guidelines are unlike protocols or guidelines issued by employers, as they are not intended to be
prescriptive directions defining a single course of management. Departure from the local prescriptive protocols or
guidelines should be fully documented in the patients case notes at the time the relevant decision is taken.

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