Risk Factors for Surgical Site Occurrence or Infection and Recurrence After Incisional Hernia Repair in Abdominal Transplant Population

Purpose. To investigate risk factors for hernia recurrence, surgical site occurrence/infection (SSO/I) and those requiring procedural intervention (SSOPI) after incisional hernia repair (IHR) following abdominal transplantation. Methods. Patients undergoing IHR following abdominal transplant were retrospectively identified in the Americas Hernia Society Quality Collaborative database. Primary outcome measures were SSO/I, SSOPI and hernia recurrence. Results. There was a total of 166 patients. Seventeen patients (10%) had an SSO/I at 30 days. Overall complication rate was 26%, and there was 1 mortality (1%). Composite recurrence rate was 28% (21/75) over 2 years. In univariate analysis, history of diabetes (DM), body mass index (BMI) .05). Immunosuppression had a negative correlation with SSO/Is and SSOPIs. BMI 35 kg/m(2) was associated with 180-day recurrence, whereas history of hypertension remained significant for recurrence at 2 years (P < .05). Conclusion. History of an open abdomen, DM, and obesity are risk factors for SSO/I, and obesity and hypertension are associated with short-term and long-term recurrence after IHR following abdominal organ transplantation. Immunosuppression had negative correlation with SSO/I. However, long-term outcomes and those related to immunosuppression should be interpreted cautiously in view of the small sample size and low follow-up rates. Baseline comorbidities seem to be the main drive for hernia outcomes for transplant population, similar to the general population. Larger cohorts and longer follow-up are necessary to delineate preventable risk factors for SSO/Is and hernia recurrences after organ transplantation.