IS THERE A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SURGERY AND IBS?

I find the question of a possible association between surgery and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) intriguing in relation to both my clinical practice and research. It is a relevant issue for doctors in disciplines as varied as family medicine, gastroenterology, general surgery, and gynecology. Over the years, I have treated many IBS patients who had previously undergone abdominal or pelvic surgeries, such as appendectomy, cholecystectomy, and hysterectomy. In many of these cases, the symptoms that led to the decision to operate persisted after surgery, and the clinical course was either unaltered or got worse.