Wernicke's encephalopathy three weeks after sleeve gastrectomy.

Area of Science:

• Bariatric Surgery
• Nutritional Deficiencies
• Neurology

Background:

• Bariatric surgeries for morbid obesity can lead to malabsorption and vitamin deficiencies.
• Neurologic complications from folate, vitamin B12, and thiamine deficiencies occur in up to 16% of patients.
• Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is most associated with these deficiencies due to its restrictive and malabsorptive nature.

Observation:

• This report details a case of rapid Wernicke's encephalopathy.
• The patient was a young female who underwent Sleeve gastrectomy (SG).
• The condition was caused by a thiamine deficiency.

Findings:

• Sleeve gastrectomy (SG), a restrictive bariatric surgery, can also lead to severe thiamine deficiency.
• Rapid Wernicke's encephalopathy developed in a young female patient post-SG.
• This highlights that even restrictive surgeries carry risks of neurologic complications.

Implications:

• Wernicke's encephalopathy is a critical neurologic complication of thiamine deficiency post-bariatric surgery.
• Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for patients undergoing any form of bariatric surgery.
• Further research is needed to understand and mitigate these risks, even with less malabsorptive procedures like SG.