Delayed onset seroma formation 'opting out' at 5 years after ventral incisional hernia repair.

We present a case of delayed onset seroma formation presenting 5 years after ventral incisional hernia repair (VIHR) with mesh. The patient presented with several months of progressive abdominal fullness and eventual spontaneous drainage from a prior abdominal surgical incision site. Surgical drainage was performed with evolvement of mesh infection. After 5 months of conservative management, the patient remained symptomatic and continued to show evidence of infection. Subsequently, she underwent mesh explantation and definitive repair with complex abdominal wall reconstruction. To the best of our knowledge, this case represents the longest delay in the onset of seroma formation post-VIHR, reported in the literature. 2016 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.