Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Hydramnios causing uterine rupture in a mare.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 1988
- Authors:
- Honnas, C M et al.
- Affiliation:
- Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
An 18-year-old pregnant mare, who was 285 days along, was seen for severe abdominal pain that had lasted for about 8 hours. A procedure to collect fluid from her abdomen showed a large amount of bloody fluid, and a vaginal exam found that her cervix was open and there was blood in her uterus. Further examination revealed that her uterus was swollen with fluid, and an ultrasound showed that the fetus had died and was lying in her abdomen. Unfortunately, the mare was put to sleep, and an examination after death confirmed that her uterus had ruptured due to a condition called hydramnios, which means there was an excessive amount of amniotic fluid.
Abstract
An 18-year-old mare, 285 days pregnant, was evaluated for apparent abdominal pain of 8 hours' duration. A large volume of sanguinous fluid was obtained on abdominocentesis, and digital vaginal examination revealed a dilated cervix and blood in the uterus. Abdominal palpation per rectum revealed the uterus to be large and distended with fluid. Ultrasonography revealed a dead fetus on the floor of the cranial portion of the abdomen. The mare was euthanatized, and necropsy confirmed that the uterus had ruptured, and that the fetus, within its chorioallantois, was in the abdomen. The amniotic sac contained approximately 96 L of amniotic fluid. Torsion of the amniotic sac separated the fetus from the fluid-filled compartment. Hydramnios was diagnosed on the basis of the excessive amniotic fluid and was believed to be the cause of the uterine rupture.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3053548/