ABSTRACT
Incisional hernia is a common complication of abdominal surgery and an important source of morbidity. It may be repaired using open suture, open mesh or laparoscopic mesh techniques. To examine the results of open mesh repair using "sublay technique" of hernioplasty. Surgical Unit-I, Department of Surgery at Allied Hospital, a tertiary care teaching hospital affiliated with Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad. Sixty patients [male: 16, female: 44] were operated for incisional hernia. Open mesh repair was done. Polyproplene mesh was placed over closed posterior rectus sheath layer and over the rectus abdominis, were available. Anterior rectus sheath was closed in front of the implanted mesh. All the patients received injectable third generation cephalosporin for 48 hrs postoperatively. Postoperative recovery in terms of seroma formation, wound infection, intraabdominal adhesions leading to intestinal obstruction, enterocutaneous fistula formation and recurrence were the main factors noted and analyzed statistically. Mean postoperative hospital stay was 03 days. Only one patient developed wound infection. None of the patients developed seroma formation, intestinal obstruction or enterocutaneous fistula. Maximum follow up till this study is 14 months. No recurrence has been reported so far. Open mesh repair using "sublay technique" does not carry risk of enterocutaneous fistula, carries low risk of seroma formation and wound infection. Proper technique is not associated with recurrence