Laparoscopic incisional hernia repair after liver transplantation

Kristin Mekeel, David Mulligan, Kunam Sudhakar Reddy, Adyr Moss, Kristi Harold

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

Incisional hernias occur in up to 17% of patients after liver transplantation. Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair is associated with fewer wound complications and a decreased incidence of recurrence when compared to open hernia repair in nontransplant patients. This is a retrospective review of 13 patients who underwent laparoscopic incisional hernia repair (LAP group) after liver transplantation compared to 14 patients who had open repairs (OP group; all but one with mesh). Primary immunosuppression in both groups at the time of transplantation was tacrolimus, but more patients in the LAP group were on sirolimus at the time of hernia, while more patients in the OP group were on prednisone at the time of hernia repair. All operations were completed with a laparoscopic approach; there were no conversions to open. Length of stay differed significantly between the 2 groups, with a mean of 5.4 days for the LAP group compared to 2.7 days in the OP group (0.0059). Complications occurred in 2 (15%) of the patients in the LAP group and 5 (36%) in the OP group. One patient in the LAP group required mesh removal to exclude causes of recurrent ascites, and 1 in the OP group for mesh infection. One (7.6%) of the patients in the LAP group developed a recurrence, compared to 29% (4) of the OP group (P =0.3259). In conclusion, laparoscopic incisional hernia repair is safe in patients after liver transplantation, with a low risk of infection or recurrence.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1576-1581
Number of pages6
JournalLiver Transplantation
Volume13
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2007

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Hepatology
  • Transplantation

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