Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 3, 2026

A Novel Approach for the Administration of Medications and Fluids in Emergency Scenarios and Settings
Published on: November 9, 2016
Total parenteral nutrition caused Wernicke's encephalopathy accompanied by wet beriberi
Ling Long1, Xiao-Dong Cai2, Jian Bao1
1Department of Neurology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Patient:
Female, 17 FINAL DIAGNOSIS: Wernicke's encephalopathy Symptoms: Blurred vision • dizziness • nystygmus • tachycardia
Medication:
- Clinical Procedure: - Specialty: Neurology.
Objective:
Mistake in diagnosis.
Background:
Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) is an acute and life-threatening illness which is not only seen in alcoholics, but also in persons with poor nutrition lacking thiamine (vitamin B1).
Case Report:
Here, we presented a case of WE in a patient who received parenteral nutrition without complement of thiamine. Besides neuropsychiatric problems, she also manifested prominent cardiovascular abnormalities, which were consistent with wet beriberi.
Conclusions:
This case emphasizes the need for thiamine supplementation in prolonged total parenteral nutrition, and also highlights the awareness of WE in persons with parenteral nutrition lacking thiamine. More importantly, we call for attention to wet beriberi in such persons.
Related Concept Videos
Parentral Nutrition: Centeral and Peripheral Parental Nutrition
PN can be administered through two primary routes:
1. Central Parenteral Nutrition (CPN):
CPN involves delivering a high concentration of nutrients through a large vein. This is typically achieved using a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) or,...
Hepatic Encephalopathy
Vitamins
Enteral Nutrition II: Nasointestinal and Gastrostomy Feeding
Nasointestinal Feeding
Nasointestinal feeding involves placing a tube...
Overview of Protein Metabolism
Amino acids play various roles in the body once they are absorbed into cells. They are restructured...
Enteral Nutrition I: Orogastric and Nasogastric Feeding
Orogastric (OG) and nasogastric (NG) feeding are two standard methods used for enteral nutrition. Enteral nutrition is often preferred over...
