title: Wernicke's encephalopathy three weeks after sleeve gastrectomy.
abstract: Following bariatric surgeries for management of morbid obesity, less nutrients are absorbed, giving rise to complications due to vitamin deficiencies with frequently dramatic consequences. Neurologic complications resulting from folate, vitamin B12, and thiamine deficiencies have been estimated to occur in up to 16% of cases and present within weeks to months following bariatric surgery. Among bariatric surgeries, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass has been the most associated with such deficiencies due to both restrictive and malabsorptive components. Complications are less seen with restrictive surgeries. We report a case of rapid Wernicke's encephalopathy due to a thiamine deficiency in a young female patient following Sleeve gastrectomy (SG).
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Saint George University Medical Center, University of Balamand, Al-Kurah, North Lebanon.
authors.forename: Rawan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saab
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of General Surgery, Saint George University Medical Center, University of Balamand, Al-Kurah, North Lebanon.
authors.forename: Mansour
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El Khoury
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Saint George University Medical Center, University of Balamand, Al-Kurah, North Lebanon. Electronic address: saidfarhat@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Said
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Farhat
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery*; D013831:Thiamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013832:Thiamine Deficiency / Q000209:etiology; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014899:Wernicke Encephalopathy / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D013831:Thiamine