Comments to “PRevention of INCisional hernia after liver transplantation (PRINC trial): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.”

Abstract

Prophylactic augmentation of the wound with mesh proposed by Kniepeiss et al is the world's first attempt to significantly reduce the risk of postoperative hernia in liver transplantation. Similar technique have been described 17 years ago in bariatric patients and confirmed by many studies in various clinical settings. The results of mesh hernia repair in patients on immunosuppressive therapy are not inferior from the data obtained from non-transplant surgery registers. To reduce the risk of using the mesh in patients scheduled for liver transplantation authors chose absorbable mesh, that maintains the mechanical strength of the wound for up to 18 months. Half of the incisional hernias have been diagnoses more than 3 years from the original procedure. For prevention of incisional hernias, there is no evidence to support the use of biologic/biosynthetic meshes.