Final answer:
Diarrhea after a cholecystectomy is often due to bile flowing directly into the intestines causing a laxative effect. A low-fat diet and medications like cholestyramine are typical treatments.
Step-by-step explanation:
Post-Cholecystectomy Diarrhea
After a cholecystectomy, patients may experience diarrhea due to the continuous flow of bile into the intestines, as there is no longer a gallbladder to regulate it. This bile can act as a laxative. Treatment typically involves a low-fat diet to reduce bile secretion and medication such as cholestyramine to bind the excess bile acids.
The change in bile flow can result in alterations in digestion especially after high-fat meals, leading to diarrhea. Foods with high fat content can now trigger an unmodulated release of bile, causing irritation and laxative effects in the intestines. Ideally, following the surgeon's postoperative care instructions and maintaining a balanced, low-fat diet would be part of the treatment strategy.