Incisional hernias: why do they occur?

ABSTRACT

Over a period of five years 110 cases of incisional hernia were evaluated at teaching hospitals of Dow Medical College and Peoples Medical College, Nawabshah to ascertain their causes. It was found that these hernias were seen more frequently after emergency surgery [87.27%] performed by resident surgeons [89.09%]. About 70% patients had previous history of gynaecological and obstetric operations. Midline incision is more prone to herniation than paramedic and transverse incisions as evidenced by 73.64% patients in this series. Other important causative factors are wound infection [69.09%], chest infection [30.91%], abdominal distension [14.55%] and constipation