Incidence of incisional hernia following vertical banded gastroplasty

Background: Our aim was to determine which patient-related factors influence the incidence of incisional hernia after vertical banded gastroplasty for morbid obesity. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 80 morbidly obese patients operated on between 1986 and 1993. All the operations were performed by only one surgeon, and the midline laparotomy was closed by means of continuous polyglactin 910 suture. Statistical analysis was performed using the Fisher exact test, and significance was assigned for values of P<0.05. Results: Incidence of incisional hernia in: obese 24%, superobese 51% (P=0.0165), men 40%, women 34% (P=0.7671), age<50 33%, age>50 50% (P=0.3137), nondiabetics 31%, diabetics 66% (P=0.0610), no wound infection 34%, wound infection 37% (P>0.9999), no anemia 31%, anemia 50% (P=0.1675), no vomiting 39%, vomiting 32% (P=0.6350). Conclusion: The only patient-related factor that significantly influences the incidence of incisional hernia in morbidly obese patients is body mass index.