Background: Incisional hernia is a well-known complication of orthotopic liver transplantation. Despite wide recognition of the impact of this problem, the incidence remains imprecisely known.

Methods The MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Clinical Trials and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews databases were searched from their inception to November 2017 for abstracts documenting incisional hernia after OLT. The primary endpoint of this study was incidence of incisional hernia, secondary endpoints were time to hernia and recurrence. Two reviewers independently graded abstracts for inclusion in this review. Heterogeneity in combining data was assumed prior to pooling. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed to estimate percentages and 95% confidence intervals.

Results: After review of 171 abstracts, 17 studies were graded as relevant. The methodological quality of studies was assessed with a minimum Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (CEBM) level of 2B. These represent a cohort of 981 patients with incisional hernia after OLT reported in the literature. As shown in Figure 1, a meta-analysis of studies meeting inclusion criteria yields a mean incidence of 15.1% (CI 12.1%-18.2%). Aggregate recurrence rate reported in the literature is 12.4% (CI 4.3-20.5%). Overall reported time to incisional hernia after OLT was 42.9 months.

Conclusions: Although reported incidences of incisional hernia after OLT vary widely across studies, an overall incidence of 15.1% is reported. This is a relatively late complication after transplantation. Recurrence of hernia after initial repair is 12.4% within this patient population.

CITATION INFORMATION: Butler J., O'Brien D., Kays J., Kubal C., Ekser B., Fridell J., Mangus R., Powelson J. Incisional Hernia after Orthotropic Liver Transplantation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Am J Transplant. 2017;17 (suppl 3).

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