Objective: An incisional hernia is a serious complication that may develop after all operations and may affect the quality of a patient's life. The incidence is between 5 to 35% after liver transplantation. The aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate the development of incisional hernias after liver transplantation.

Materials and Methods: Between April 2014 and April 2018 at Istanbul Medipol University Medical Faculty Hospital Organ Transplantation Department, 140 adult patients with living donor liver transplantation were studied retrospectively. The incisional hernia was diagnosed in 10 (7.1%) patients. The demographic features, clinical features, predisposing factors and surgical outcomes were evaluated in these patients.

Results: The mean age of patients was 58.3±5.8 years. Of these patients, seven (70%) were male. Mean Body Mass Index (BMI) of the patients was 33.9±1.6 kg/m2 (kilogram/ square meter). The mean end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores of the patients was 19±2.2. Mean preoperative serum albumin levels of the patients was 2.99±0.12 g/L. There was posttransplant severe ascites (>2 liters) in 8 (80%) patients. The hernia defects in all these patients were repaired (with open onlay technique) with prolene mesh graft. No complication and recurrence were observed in the follow up of 36 (22-42) months.

Conclusions: There were elderly - male - obese patients, low serum albumin levels and severe ascites in the risk group. We think, attention must be paid especially in these patient groups for the early diagnosis and treatment of incisional hernias which may develop after liver transplantation.