Twenty-five percent of all CAPD patients reviewed in this study developed abdominal hernias. Eleven hernias (32.4%) occurred at the catheter insertion site, 17.6% were inguinal, 26.5% were epigastric and umbilical and 23.5% occurred at the site of previous abdominal incisions. The risk of developing a hernia was significantly greater in patients over 40 years of age, women of parity greater than 3, patients who had had undergone more than 3 laparotomies and those with a previous hernia repair. Three hernias became incarcerated, one with intestinal strangulation. Early surgical repair is advisable to avoid these complications.