Port site incisional hernia after minimal access surgery

Abstract EN

Incisional hernia is a common sequel to open abdominal surgery, affecting 5–15 % of patients.

The introduction of laparoscopic surgery into clinical routine more than 20 years ago has dramatically changed the field of surgery.

It is commonly held that the frequency of incisional hernia has been reduced since the introduction of minimal access surgery.

The incidence of port site hernia ranges from 1 % to 6 %.

The aim of this study is to identify most common causes of port site incisional hernia.

This is a retrospective study of 2116 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery between January 2006 and December 2010.

The information obtained according to indication of surgery, onset of hernia, clinical risk factors for incisional hernia like age & sex, BMI, co-morbidity, and those related to surgical factors such as port site, port size, port site infection and abdominal access techniques.

The data were retrieved for patients who developed port-site incisional hernia (PSIH).

The incisional hernia rate for the entire series was 2.5 %.

Most port site hernias developed in the 10 mm port, in the umbilical and supra umbilical, midline and 0 % for the off-midline.

There was statistically significant difference in patient’s related risk factors regarding age, BMI and wound infection with development of port site hernias.

Conclusion : In this series, the 10mm port in midline site is a significantly higher cause for incisional hernia than the off-midline and smallest port size.

Open first access technique, obesity and port site infection also significantly increase the incidence of port site incisional hernia.