Postcholecystectomy syndrome

Postcholecystectomy syndrome sometimes occurs when abdominal symptoms develop after surgery to remove the gallbladder (cholecystectomy). Between 5% and 40% of people who have the gallbladder removed may experience this syndrome.¹

Symptoms of postcholecystectomy syndrome may include:

• Upset stomach, nausea, and vomiting.
• Gas, bloating, and diarrhea.
• Persistent pain in the upper right abdomen.

You can ease diarrhea by taking the medicine cholestyramine.

If pain continues, you may have a problem caused by something other than the gallbladder or a gallstone. Other possible causes of abdominal pain include irritable bowel syndrome, stomach (peptic) ulcers, pancreatitis, or abdominal pain from an unknown cause.

Author:	Monica Rhodes	Last Updated: August 2, 2007
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Jerome B. Simon, MD, FRCPC, FACP - Gastroenterology
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