[Risk factors and prevention of incisional hernia--what is evidence-based?]

Incisional hernia is a late complication of laparotomy for which an evidence-based prohylactic approach is still lacking. Postoperatively, incisional hernias occur because of multiple factors. Preoperative comorbidities belong to these risk factors. A risk reduction related to concomitant diseases mostly does not succeed. There is a range of studies comparing the techniques of surgical wound closure. A consensus of these is that a running suture of the fascia with slowly absorbable or non-absorbable sutures results in the lowest incidence of incisional hernias. A one-cm distance between the stitches and a minimal distance of one cm to the fascial margin as well as a 4:1 suture length to wound length ratio are still valid principles. In any case, solely optimising the surgical technique of the abdominal wall closure is not able to reduce the incidence of incisional hernias. Prevention of postoperative complications by adequate pain management, respiratory training and early mobilisation are procedures to reduce the incidence of incisional hernias. However, systematic studies are lacking. To avoid an incisional hernia, only a practical approach remains which, however, does not meet the requirements of evidence-based medicine.