INCISIONAL HERNIA

These hernias develop at sites where a cut has been made in the abdominal wall in the past. They occur in 3-11% of patients who have had previous abdominal operations. Most occur within 3 years of the surgery.

These hernias are complex surgical problems. Repairing them can be difficult and a very high recurrence rate has been reported (up to 44%).

I use a repair that involves the use of a large piece of mesh with considerable overlap with the patients own tissues. Some of the mesh then is situated under the skin. For this reason, the most common complication from this procedure is the collection of fluid (seroma) under the skin. Most of these settle by repeated drainage with needle and syringe. Sometimes a second operation may be needed.

I have had a paper on this subject published in the Journal of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (Jan 2001).

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Mr. H.S. Khaira  MD, FRCS
Copyright © 2001  [H.S. Khaira]. All rights reserved.
Revised: November 13, 2004 .