Abdominal Pain Following Bariatric Surgery

Abdominal pain is common in patients who have undergone bariatric surgery and perhaps most common in Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). It is estimated that over one-third of patients with RYGB present with abdominal pain, although this is likely a gross underestimate as studies investigating this have been performed in a closed setting; patients oftentimes will change physician providers or be admitted to other hospitals. A standard abdominal pain workup evaluating etiologies unrelated to bariatric surgery should be pursued as appropriate. Such conditions include but are not limited to cardiovascular disease, pancreatitis, appendicitis, functional pain, splenic infarcts or abscesses, pulmonary processes, vascular evaluation for what would be considered an atypical presentation.