[Abdominal pregnancy. Apropos of 7 cases collected between 1978 and 1986]

The authors point out, following a study of 7 cases of abdominal pregnancy, how necessary it is to make a diagnosis early and to use ultrasonography routinely whenever there is the slightest abnormality in the progress of the pregnancy, such as absence of strong fetal movements or failure of the abdominal contents to grow rapidly. The treatment is surgical and the placenta should as far as possible be removed completely because serious complications both of infection and haemorrhage can occur if the placenta is only partially removed. These complications can pose a great threat to the mother.