title: Metabolic complications of bypass surgery for morbid obesity.
abstract: Postoperative complications resulting from bariatric surgery can lead to severe vitamin-deficiency states. A patient who underwent bariatric bypass surgery and later developed Wernicke's encephalopathy prompted us to present her interesting case history for discussion. Although bariatric surgery is known to be a risk factor for Wernicke's encephalopathy, this diagnosis is only rarely evoked in the postoperative course. We recommend that the occurrence of digestive, psychiatric or neurological symptoms after bariatric surgery should suggest a thiamine deficiency that must be promptly assessed. Without waiting for the results, thiamine supplementation should be initiated.
authors.affiliation: Département de Psychiatrie et Psychologie médicale, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire d'Angers, 4 rue Larrey, Angers, France. ; UPRES EA 2646, Université d'Angers, UNAM, Angers, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Richard-Devantoy
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Garré
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gohier
keywords: Wernicke’s encephalopathy; bariatric surgery; metabolic complications; morbid obesity; prevention