Wernicke's encephalopathy after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: a misdiagnosed complication.
Malabsorptive syndromes and micronutrient deficiencies represent well-known long-term complications of bariatric surgery. Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE), a neurologic manifestation of thiamine deficiency, has been classically associated with alcoholism or severe malnutrition, but rarely reported after bariatric surgery. Herein, we describe the case of a 27-year-old woman that developed WE 10 months after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for morbid obesity that was initially misdiagnosed with a consequent retard in the appropriate treatment. Although only a few sporadic cases have been reported in the literature, all surgeons and physicians involved in the care of bariatric patients must be aware of this potentially serious complication.
Iannelli
Antonio
A
Service de Chirurgie Digestive et Centre de Transplantation Hepatique, Hopital Archet 2, 151 Route Saint Antoine de Ginestiere, BP 3079, Nice Cedex 3, France.
Addeo
Pietro
P
Novellas
Sebastien
S
Gugenheim
Jean
J
D000328:Adult; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D015390:Gastric Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery*; D014899:Wernicke Encephalopathy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology