1. Factors associated with incisional hernia.

In surgeon's control	Other factors
Type of incision Midline Paramedian Pfannenstiel Maylard, etc	Postoperative inflammatory response to sutures, which may be suture‐specific. For example, studies have shown that synthetic absorbable materials tend to induce lower levels of inflammation compared to catgut (Nilsson 1983; Postlethwait 1975)
Incision technique 2 scalpel (1 for skin and 1 for deeper tissue) versus single scalpel Single stroked versus multiple stroked incision Scalpel versus cautery using cutting current versus cautery using coagulation current versus carbon dioxide laser	Associated co‐morbid conditions Advanced age of the patient Nutritional status of the patient Severe obesity Diabetes Malignancy Jaundice Abdominal distension Chronic steroid therapy Wound infections in the primary laparotomy Smoking Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Preoperative surgical preparation of incision site and pre‐operative antibiotics	Nature of wound Clean Clean‐contaminated Contaminated
Use of subcutaneous drains	Neoadjuvant therapies Chemotherapy Radiation Immunotherapy
Suture material Absorbable versus non‐absorbable suture material Monofilament versus multifilament suture material
Suture technique Mass versus layered closure Continuous versus interrupted sutures Suture length: wound length ratio