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Surgery Today
Published in: Surgery Today 5/2021

Open Access 01-05-2021 | Liver Transplantation | Original Article

Incisional hernia after liver transplantation: mesh-based repair and what else?

Authors: Aristotelis Perrakis, Dagmar Knüttel, Mirhasan Rahimli, Mihailo Andric, Roland S. Croner, Nikolaos Vassos

Published in: Surgery Today | Issue 5/2021

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Abstract

Purpose

Incisional hernia (IH) is not uncommon after liver transplantation (LT). We investigated the long-term outcome of mesh-based hernia repair using an inlay-onlay technique.

Methods

Our analysis was based on a prospective collected database of all LT recipients from our hospital over a period of 15 years. We analyzed clinical data including the period between LT and hernia development, the size and localization of the hernia, the length of in-hospital stay, immunosuppression, and postoperative morbidity, as well as follow-up data. The median follow-up period was 120 (range 12–200) months.

Results

Among a total of 220 patients who underwent a collective 239 LTs, 29 (13%) were found to have an IH after a median period of 27.5 months (range 3–96 months). There were 12 (41%) men and 17 (59%) women, with a median age of 51 years. The median size of the IH was 13 cm (range 2–30 cm) and the median in-hospital stay was 6 days. Mild postoperative complications developed in seven patients, including two onlay mesh infections. One patient (3.4%) suffered recurrence.

Conclusion

Mesh-based hernia repair using the inlay/onlay technique represents an effective and safe method for patients with an IH after LT, without additional risk from continuous immunosuppression.
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Metadata
Title
Incisional hernia after liver transplantation: mesh-based repair and what else?
Authors
Aristotelis Perrakis
Dagmar Knüttel
Mirhasan Rahimli
Mihailo Andric
Roland S. Croner
Nikolaos Vassos
Publication date
01-05-2021
Publisher
Springer Singapore
Published in
Surgery Today / Issue 5/2021
Print ISSN: 0941-1291
Electronic ISSN: 1436-2813
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00595-020-02162-9

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