hernia Repair in Patients with Ascites

ABSTRACT

The hospital records of 7 patients with ascites and hernias ( 6 patients had inguinal, 1 patient had umbilical) were reviewed restrospectively. The causes of ascites were liver cirrhosis in 7 patients. Among the 7 patients with liver cirrhosis and ascites, 6 were Child C and 1 was Child B. Among the 7 patients, 5 of them underwent ascites control with diuretics and 2 underwent ascites control with large volume paracentesis. All patients underwent hernia repair as elective surgery. The only complication was primary peritonitis because of insufficient control during the preoperative period, and there were no perioperative deaths or ascites leaks. All patients were available for follow-up. In this group, recurrence did not occurr for a mean 14.3 months after repair. From this retrospective study, we suggest that surgeons should repair hernias with ascites if patients suffer from their hernias because elective hernia repair can be performed safely without any complications or ascites leaks. Child C hepatic dysfunction or uncontrolled ascites can not be contraindications.