EXPERIENCE WITH 29 CASES OF FEMALE VENTRAL INCISIONAL HERNIAS IN ILE-IFE, NIGERIA

Ventral incisional hernia, a major cause of postoperative morbidity after abdominal operations is reviewed in 29 adult female patients following 2042 major procedures during a 10-year period in Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. All the patients were in the reproductive age group. The overall incidence of 1.4% is low but being a hospital incidence, the authors feel that it should not be deluding. Premature deliveries were associated with pregnancy coexisting with incisional hernia. Operations for complicated obstetric conditions and wound infections, were the major predisposing factors. It is noted that a reduction of the frequency of occurrence of incisional hernia and its complications in female patients can be achieved through a combination of health education and sound surgical technique with good wound care. An elective repair of hernia is most auspicious.