Table 1 Definition of early onset and late complications

Burst abdomen

Postoperatively missing continuity of the abdominal fascia in combination with a wound dehiscence with consecutive relapse operation.

Wound infection

Redness, wound dehiscence with secretion either of putrid or caliginous, smelly fluid or requiring antibiotic treatment or surgical intervention.

Postoperative pulmonary complication

Infection of the lung with either evidence of increased infection parameters (CRP > 2 mg/dl and/or leukocytes> 10 0000/ml) which are not caused by a different pathologic process or evidence of pulmonary infiltration in the chest x-ray, requiring antibiotic therapy.

Incisional hernia

Postoperative evidence of a fascia dehiscence after completed superficial wound healing with or without prolapse of abdominal organs, confirmed by abdominal ultrasound.