DOLICHOCEPHALY AND OLIGOHYDRAMNIOS IN PRETERM PREMATURE RUPTURE OF THE MEMBRANES

This study evaluates the association between dolichocephaly and fetal outcome after preterm premature rupture of membranes. Dolichocephaly w as more common in preterm fetuses in the breech presentation than thos e in the cephalic presentation and was more common in fetuses with oli gohydramnios of long duration. Of fetuses in the cephalic presentation , 10 of 12 (83%) surviving dolichocephalic fetuses had respiratory dis tress syndrome compared with 31 of 73 (42%) normocephalic fetuses. How ever, other outcome parameters did not differ significantly. We conclu de that the finding of dolichocephaly is associated with oligohydramni os of long duration. In fetuses with preterm premature rupture of memb ranes it is associated with respiratory distress syndrome, but not oth erwise with a poor neonatal prognosis.