Incisional hernia

An incisional hernia occurs when the area of weakness through which the hernia occurs, is the result of an incompletely healed surgical wound. Since median incisions in the linea alba are frequent for laparotomy, ventral incisional hernias are termed ventral hernia. These can be among the most frustrating and difficult hernias to treat.

These hernias present as a bulge or protrusion at or near the area of the prior incision scar. Virtually any prior abdominal operation can subsequently develop an incisional hernia at the scar area, including those from large abdominal procedures (intestinal surgery, vascular surgery), to small incisions (appendectomy, or laparoscopy). These hernias can occur at any incision, but tend to occur more commonly along a straight line from the sternum breastbone straight down to the pubis, and are more complex in these regions. Hernias in this area have a high rate of recurrence if repaired via a simple suture technique under tension and it is especially advised that these be repaired via a tension free repair method using mesh (a type of synthetic net).