Developing incisional hernia after open liver resection and liver transplantation: A single-center risk factor analysis

INTRODUCTION: Open liver surgery is one of the most common abdominal surgeries, which is associated with a higher risk of developing an incisional hernia (IH). This is mainly because of the extent and type of the surgical incisions in this type of surgery. Of course, many other risk factors may interfere with wound healing and can increase the risk of developing IH after this type of surgery. In this study, we analyzed several perioperative risk factors, particularly the type of surgical incision and the technical suture aspects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospectively, we analyzed the development of incisional hernia within the first 36 postoperative months clinically and image-morphologically among 155 patients who had undergone an open liver resection or liver transplantation and met the inclusion criteria between 2015 and 2020 in our institution. RESULTS: Most of the incisional hernias occurred during the first 16 postoperative months, with a peak incidence in the eighth postoperative month. The most important preoperative risk factors were the positive past medical history of other hernias (P = 0.05) and overweight/ obesity (P = 0.018). From the operative course, many risk factors were detected, like an intraoperative blood loss of > 1,000 ml (P = 0.043) and an intraoperative blood transfusion of > 10 PRBCs (P = 0.001), a Mercedes-star incision (P = 0.007), the use of Vicryl (polyglactin 910) sutures and interrupted suture techniques for the fascial reconstruction (P = 0.045) and (P = 0.006), and a long operative time of > 240 min (P = 0.033). Postoperative ascites formation as well as the need for revision operation due to a postoperative complication were associated with higher incidence rates of developing IH (P = 0.02) and (P = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: The development of IH cannot be avoided. But the leading risk factors can be modified or optimized. From our experience and according to this analysis, we recommend the careful selection of the surgical approach for each patient and promotion of the use of the minimally invasive approaches, avoiding the angulated incisions as much as possible, applying the running suture technique with (polydioxanone) PDS-loops for the fascial reconstruction, minimizing the intraoperative blood loss and need for blood transfusion, shortening the operative time as much as possible, early detection of postoperative formation of ascites, and managing it properly. In the event of need for a revision operation due to a postoperative complication, a reinforced reconstruction of the fascia can be considered.