ANTERIOR ABDOMINAL WALL HERNIAS AND THEIR SURGICAL TREATMENT IN CIRRHOTIC PATIENTS – LITERATURE REVIEW

The population of patients with chronic liver disease and liver cirrhosis shows increased perioperative morbidity and mortality rates compared to the general population. The severely compromised liver function in combination with the surgical treatment and the specific pathophysiological features of cirrhotic patients contribute to these results. Anterior abdominal wall hernias are a surgical treatment challenge in that population due to their increased incidence, recurrency rates and risk of complications requiring emergency surgery. The presence of ascites determines their occurrence, being a prerequisite for the development of multiple complications in the perioperative period, some of which are potentially life-threatening. All this requires a thorough analysis of the pathophysiological abnormalities in patients with liver cirrhosis, as well as optimization of their condition before performing surgical intervention in order to reduce morbidity and mortality rates in this population.