abdominal pregnancy

pregnancy /preg·nan·cy/ (preg´nan-se)

1. the condition of having a developing embryo or fetus in the body, after union of an oocyte and spermatozoon.preg´nant

Pregnancy—Uterine levels.

2. the period during which one is pregnant; see gestation period, under period.

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abdominal pregnancy  ectopic pregnancy within the abdominal cavity.

ampullar pregnancy  ectopic pregnancy in the ampulla of the uterine tube.

cervical pregnancy  ectopic pregnancy within the cervical canal.

combined pregnancy  simultaneous intrauterine and extrauterine pregnancies.

cornual pregnancy  pregnancy in one of the horns of a bicornuate uterus.

ectopic pregnancy , extrauterine pregnancy development of the embryo outside the uterine cavity.

Diagram showing locations of ectopic (extrauterine) pregnancy.

false pregnancy  development of the signs of pregnancy without the presence of an embryo.

heterotopic pregnancy  combined p.

interstitial pregnancy  ectopic pregnancy in the part of the uterine tube within the uterine wall.

intraligamentary pregnancy , intraligamentous pregnancy ectopic pregnancy within the broad ligament.

molar pregnancy  conversion of the early embryo into a mole.

multiple pregnancy  presence of more than one fetus in the uterus at the same time.

mural pregnancy  interstitial p.

ovarian pregnancy  ectopic pregnancy occurring in an ovary.

phantom pregnancy  false pregnancy due to psychogenic factors.

postterm pregnancy  one that has extended beyond 42 weeks from the onset of the last menstrual period or 40 completed weeks from conception.

tubal pregnancy  ectopic pregnancy within a uterine tube.

tuboabdominal pregnancy  ectopic pregnancy partly in the fimbriated end of a uterine tube and partly in the abdominal cavity.

tubo-ovarian pregnancy  ectopic pregnancy occurring partly in the ovary and partly in a uterine tube.

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abdominal pregnancy

n.

An ectopic pregnancy developing in the peritoneal cavity, usually secondary to an early rupture of a tubal pregnancy. Also called abdominocyesis.

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abdominal pregnancy,

an extrauterine pregnancy in which the conceptus develops in the abdominal cavity after being extruded from the fimbriated end of the fallopian tube or through a defect in the tube or uterus. The placenta may implant on the abdominal or visceral peritoneum. Abdominal pregnancy may be suspected when the abdomen has enlarged but the uterus has remained small for the length of gestation. Abdominal pregnancies constitute approximately 2% of ectopic pregnancies and approximately 0.01% of all pregnancies. One in 8000 term births is an abdominal pregnancy. The condition results in perinatal death of the fetus in most cases, maternal death in approximately 6%. Because of its rarity, the condition may not be suspected, and diagnosis is often delayed. Ultrasound or x-ray visualization showing gas in the maternal bowel below the fetus is diagnostic of the condition. Surgical removal of the placenta, sac, and embryo or fetus is necessary if attached to the posterior part of the fallopian tube, ovary, broad ligament, or uterus. The procedure is often complicated by massive bleeding, and, because the placenta tends to adhere firmly to the peritoneum and the bowel, complete removal is seldom possible. Allowing it to be absorbed presents fewer problems. Postoperative sequelae may include retained placental tissue, infection, continued bleeding, and sterility. Also called abdominocyesis.

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pregnancy

the condition of having a developing embryo or fetus in the body, after union of an ovum and spermatozoon. The duration of pregnancy in each animal species varies widely. See also gestation.

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abdominal pregnancy

ectopic pregnancy within the peritoneal cavity.

pregnancy diagnosis

see pregnancy tests (below).

Pregnancy diagnosis by rectal examination in a cow. By permission from Parkinson TJ, England GCW, Arthur GH, Arthur's Veterinary Reproduction and Obstetrics, Saunders, 2001

pregnancy duration

see gestation period.

ectopic pregnancy, extrauterine pregnancy

development of the fertilized ovum outside the cavity of the uterus. The site of implantation usually is one of the uterine tubes. Not recorded as occurring in animals.

pregnancy edema

see udder edema.

pregnancy failure

includes fetal resorption, fetal mummification, abortion, miscarriage.

false pregnancy, phantom pregnancy

development of all the signs of pregnancy without the presence of an embryo. Commonly seen in bitches, 40 to 60 days after estrus, associated with the persistence of corpora lutea. There may be all the signs of impending parturition with mammary development, milk and behavior changes including nest building and aggression. Tends to recur in the same bitch. Sometimes pyometra is a sequel. Called also pseudopregnancy, pseudocyesis.

pregnancy prolonged

see prolonged gestation.

pregnancy rate (overall)

the percentage of all services given to a group of females during a defined period which result in pregnancies (diagnosed at 42 days or more after service), or percentage of all females which become pregnant during a specified (usually seasonal) breeding period.

pregnancy specific protein B

a potential pregnancy diagnosis test; secreted by the trophoblastic ectoderm and present in the cow's peripheral circulation at day 24 of gestation; persists in the circulation for long periods after parturition.

pregnancy termination

in the early stages of pregnancy prostaglandins are used; in the later stages corticosteroids are used. The efficacy of the various treatments varies between the species. See also parturition induction.

pregnancy tests

cover a wide range with different tests being most satisfactory in different species. Mare—ultrasound at 24 days, rectal palpation of the uterus 30 to 35 days, serum gonadotropin levels at day 40 to 100. Cow—rectal palpation from 35 days onwards; progesterone assay in milk at day 24 after breeding. Ewes—ultrasound after 60 days, rectal probe after 70 days. Sow—estrone sulfate content of the urine at 25 days, rectal examination at 30 days, ultrasound at 28 days. Bitch, queen—palpation through the abdominal wall in a cooperative patient at 21 days, radiographic examination at day 45, ultrasound at 35 days.

pregnancy toxemia

is recorded in ruminants.

1. Ewes. Pregancy toxemia occurs only in the last month of pregnancy, most commonly in fat ewes carrying twin lambs, and in circumstances in which the feed supply is declining. See also fat ewe pregnancy toxemia.

2. Cows. Fat cows in the last 6 weeks of pregnancy and which suffer a sharp decrease in feed are subject. Dairy cows that calve in an excessively fat state and then are stressed nutritionally develop a syndrome very similar to pregnancy toxemia but called more commonly fat cow syndrome. In all of the diseases there is blindness, recumbency and severe ketosis. In early cases there may be some excitation, even convulsions.

3. in guinea pig sows, particularly obese ones, uteroplacental ischemia caused by aortic compression and iliac arterial hypoplasia occurs in late pregancy, causing lethargy, anorexia and rapid death.

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abdominal pregnancy

Obstetrics An ectopic pregnancy in which a fertilized egg implants on the peritoneal surface of the abdominal cavity. See Ectopic pregnancy.