These symptoms have been referred to as the post-cholycystectomy syndrome. Other patients have right sided or mid abdominal pain.
Many patients also complain of post-cholycystectomy diarrhea.
The most common cause of post-cholycystectomy symptoms is a stone in the common bile duct. An ERCP is a test where a tube with a light and video camera at its end is introduced into the small intestine where the bile duct can be identified. When the bile duct is identified a small tube can be inserted into the bile duct and x-ray dye is passed through this small tube. Liver function test abnormalities may also be present. It is also important to note that other gastrointestinal and extraintestinal causes of abdominal pain need to be excluded as well.