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. 2022 Nov 4:35:e1698.
doi: 10.1590/0102-672020220002e1698. eCollection 2022.

EARLY INCISIONAL HERNIA AFTER LIVER TRANSPLANTATION: RISK FACTORS AND HERNIA REPAIR RESULTS

João Victor Vecchi Ferri  1 , Sofia Michele Dick  2 , Tomaz de Jesus Maria Grezzana-Filho  2 , Flávia Heinz Feier  2 , Lucas Prediger  3 , Glória Sulczinski Lazzaretti  2 , Cleber Rosito Pinto Kruel  2 , Carlos Otavio Corso  2 , Leandro Totti Cavazzola  2 , Marcio Fernandes Chedid  2
Affiliations

EARLY INCISIONAL HERNIA AFTER LIVER TRANSPLANTATION: RISK FACTORS AND HERNIA REPAIR RESULTS

João Victor Vecchi Ferri et al. Arq Bras Cir Dig. .

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Background: Liver transplantation is a complex and valuable therapy. However, complications that burden postoperative quality of life, such as incisional hernia, are to be better elucidated, such as risk factors and prophylactic measures.

Aim: This study aimed to define the rate of incisional hernia in patients who underwent liver transplantation in a population in southern Brazil and to assess the related risk factors in order to establish measures for prior optimization and specific prophylactic care in the future.

Methods: Patients undergoing adult Liver transplantation from January 2004 to November 2020 were retrospectively analyzed, assessing demographic features, surgical outcomes, and predisposing factors.

Results: Among 261 liver transplantation patients included, incisional hernia was diagnosed in 71 (27.2%). Of the 71 incisional hernia patients, 28 (39.4%) developed IH during the first post-transplant. Majority of the patients were male (52/71, 73.2%); of the 71 patients, 52 had hepatitis C virus (HCV) and 33 (46.5%) had hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Male gender (p=0.044), diabetes mellitus (p=0.008), and acute cellular rejection (p<0.001) were risk factors for IH. In all, 28 (39.4%) patients were submitted for hernia repair with mesh, with a recurrence rate of 17.8%.

Conclusion: Incisional hernia after liver transplantation is a relatively common problem associated with male gender, diabetes, and acute cellular rejection. This is a problem that should not be trivialized in view of the complexity of liver transplantation, as it can lead to a reduction in quality of life as well as jeopardize late liver transplantation results and lead to incarceration and strangulation.

RACIONAL:: O transplante de fígado é uma terapia complexa e valiosa. Entretanto, complicações que prejudicam a qualidade de vida pós-operatória, como a hérnia incisional, devem ser mais bem elucidadas, analisando os fatores de risco e medidas profiláticas.

OBJETIVOS:: Definir a taxa de hérnia incisional em pacientes submetidos a transplante de fígado em uma população do sul do Brasil, avaliar os fatores de risco relacionados, a fim de estabelecer futuramente medidas de otimização prévia e cuidados profiláticos específicos.

MÉTODOS:: Foram analisados, retrospectivamente, pacientes submetidos a transplante de fígado adultos, de janeiro de 2004 a novembro de 2020, avaliando suas características demográficas, resultados cirúrgicos e fatores predisponentes.

RESULTADOS:: Dentre os 261 pacientes transplantados hepáticos incluídos, a hérnia incisional foi diagnosticada em 71 (27,2%). Vinte e oito do total de 71 pacientes com hérnia incisional (39,4%) desenvolveram hérnia incisional durante o primeiro ano pós-transplante. A maioria era do sexo masculino [n=52, (73,2%)]; 52/71 (73,2%) apresentavam cirrose secundária ao vírus da hepatite C; 33/72 (46,5%) foram portadores de carcinoma hepatocelular. Sexo masculino (p=0,044), diabetes mellitus (p=0,008) e rejeição celular aguda (p<0,001) foram fatores de risco estatisticamente significantes para hérnia incisional. Vinte e oito pacientes (39,4%) foram submetidos à hernioplastia incisional com tela, com taxa de recidiva de 17,8%.

CONCLUSÕES:: Hérnia incisional após transplante de fígado é um problema relativamente comum, associado ao sexo masculino, diabetes e também a rejeição celular aguda. Este é um problema que não deve ser banalizado, já que pode levar à redução da qualidade de vida, comprometer os resultados tardios do transplante de fígado e pode levar a encarceramento ou estrangulamento.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: None

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