Implantation of the fertilized ovum outside of its normal place in the uterine cavity. 

May occur in the fallopian tube, the abdominal wall, or on the bowel. 

S/S:  vaginal bleeding,  missed period, abdominal tenderness or pain. Hypotension, tachycardia, vertigo, and shoulder pain.

Salpingectomy

Surgical removal of a fallopian tube

Laparotomy

Surgical opening of the abdomen

Laparoscopy

Examination of the interior of the abdomen by insertion of an endoscope through the anterior abdominal wall

Salpingostomy

Surgical opening of a fallopian tube

Condition in which trophoblastic cells that cover the

chorionic villus proliferate and undergo cystic changes, which may be malignant.

Abnormal placental development that results in production of fluid-filled grapelike clusters instead of normal placental tissue.

Abortus

Fetus born before 20 weeks gestation or weighing less than 500 g or being less than 25 cm in size

Cerclage

Placement of nonabsorbable suture to keep a prematurely dilating cervix closed

Hyperemesis gravidarum

Abnormal condition of pregnancy characterized by

protracted, persistent vomiting, weight loss, and fluid and electrolyte imbalance

Somatization

Conversion of mental experiences into physical symptoms

Placenta that is abnormally implanted in the lower uterine segment; typed according to the proximity to the cervical os:

total

: completely covers the cervical os;

partial: partially occludes the cervical os;

marginal: placental edge

Invasion of the uterine muscle by the placenta; separation of the placenta may be impossible

Perforation of the uterus by the placenta

Deep penetration in the myometrium by the placenta

Vasa previa

Condition where the umbilical cord is implanted into the fetal membranes rather than the placenta

Kleihauer-Betke test

Blood test that detects the presence of fetal blood cells in the maternal circulation

Abruptio Placentae

Partial or complete separation of a normally implanted placenta.

Severe abdominal pain, board-like abdomen, abnormal contractions and increased uterine tone, fetal compromise.

Preterm birth

Birth that occurs before 37 completed weeks of gestation

Tocolysis

Use of medications to inhibit uterine contractions

Oligohydramnios

Abnormally small amount of amniotic fluid

Preeclampsia

Pregnancy-specific vasospastic disease that occurs after 20 weeks of gestation or early during the postpartal period; characterized by hypertension, proteinuria,

and hemoconcentration

HELLP syndrome

Condition characterized by

hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets; a serious complication of preeclampsia

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)

Hematologic disorder characterized by a pathologic form of clotting that is diffuse and consumes large amounts of clotting factors; causes widespread external or internal bleeding or both

Monozygotic

Originating from a single fertilized ovum (i.e., identical twins)

Dizygotic

Originating from two zygotes (i.e., fraternal twins)

TORCH infections

Group of maternal infectious diseases that cause harm to the

Erythroblastosis fetalis

Hemolytic disease of the newborn, usually caused by

isoimmunization that has resulted from Rh incompatibility or ABO incompatibility

Kernicterus

Bilirubin encephalopathy that involves the deposit of unconjugated bilirubin in brain cells; results in neurological damage or death

Coombs’ test

A laboratory test for the presence of antibodies in serum

Glycosylated hemoglobin (GHb)

Glycohemoglobin (a minor hemoglobin) with

glucose attached; GHb/HbA1c concentration represents the average blood glucose level over the preceding 5 to 6 weeks

Chorionic villus sampling (CVS)

Removal of fetal tissue from the placenta for

genetic diagnosis

Percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS)

Invasive procedure during which the

fetal umbilical vessel is accessed for blood sampling or for transfusions

Amniocentesis

Procedure in which a needle is inserted through the maternal

abdominal and uterine walls into the amniotic fluid and some amniotic fluid is withdrawn

Lecithin

Phospholipid that decreases surface tension; a protein component of surfactant

Lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio (L/S ratio)

Ratio of lecithin to sphingomyelin in the

amniotic fluid; used to assess fetal lung maturity

Protein component of surfactant

Phosphatidylglycerol

Phospholipid component of pulmonary surfactant; its

presence in amniotic fluid is considered a sign of fetal lung maturity

Ultrasonography

Use of high-frequency sound waves to detect differences in tissue

density and visualize outlines of structures in the body; in obstetrics, widely used for fetal

diagnosis and surveillance

Biophysical profile (BPP)

Noninvasive assessment of the fetus, uses ultrasonography

and uterine fetal monitoring; includes fetal breathing movements, gross body movements,

fetal tone, reactive heart rate (nonstress testing), and qualitative amniotic fluid volume

Acoustic stimulation test

Antepartum test used as an adjunct to the nonstress test to

elicit an acceleration of the fetal heart rate; may be combined with vibration

(vibroacoustic stimulation test); the stimulus is applied to the maternal abdomen over the

fetal head

Contraction stress test (CST)

Test to stimulate uterine contractions in order to

assess fetal response: a healthy fetus does not react to uterine contractions; a

compromised fetus demonstrates late heart rate decelerations that are indicative of

uteroplacental insufficiency

Electronic fetal heart rate monitoring (EFM)

Electronic surveillance of the fetal

heart rate; may be external or internal methods