Abstract
Fetal membranes are essential for the maintenance of sterile intrauterine milieu for
proper fetal growth and development. Chronic infection and inflammation may lead to
progressive stretching, hardening of the membranes, making them less elastic and more
susceptible to premature rupture of membranes (PROM). PROM is associated with fetal
morbidity and mortality which is inversely proportional to the period of gestation.
Amniopatch even though still in experimental stages to be an established treatment
for PROM, is a formidable treatment modality which has shown to seal the chorioamniotic
leak and prolonging the pregnancy with improved fetal outcome. With increasing intrauterine
fetal interventions both diagnostic (amniocentesis) and therapeutic (fetoscopy), amniopatch
is an option for persistent amniotic fluid leakage which has shown to effectively
seal the chorioamniotic leak in about two-third of the cases.
Keywords
Hardening - Elastic - Rupture - Amniopatch - Fetoscopy
