Wernicke Encephalopathy Following Bariatric Surgery and Hyperemesis Gravidarum

R. O. Saab; B. J. Bassil; M. I. El Khoury; P. W. Rassam; E. E. Snaifer; R. A. Jabbour

doi:10.5742/MEFM.2014.92453

Article Details

Wernicke Encephalopathy Following Bariatric Surgery and Hyperemesis Gravidarum

Authors:

R. O. Saab | B. J. Bassil | M. I. El Khoury | P. W. Rassam | E. E. Snaifer | R. A. Jabbour

Publisher:

medi+WORLD International

Main Topics:

Medicine

Journal:

World Family Medicine Journal: Incorporating the Middle East Journal of Family Medicine 2014 vol.12 Issue 2, pp.30-32

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

3/2014

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

46122

Frequency:

Monthly

eISSN:

18390196

pISSN:

18390188

DOI:

10.5742/MEFM.2014.92453

Descriptors:

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Background: Wernicke’sencephalopathy is a well-known neurological complication of vitamin B1 deficiency that can occur following intractable vomiting secondary to different malabsorption conditions, alcoholism and hyperemesis gravidarum.Methods: We report a 22-year-old female who presented for vertigo, truncal ataxia and multidirectional nystagmus in all directions of the gaze movement following several weeks of intractable vomiting, 2.5 months after a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery and an unrevealed pregnancy. Because of several exposures to radiation while performing multiple X-rays and CT scans of the abdomen andpelvis, the patient wasrecommended to undergo dilatation and curettage procedure.Results: She was diagnosed with vitamin B1 deficiency secondary to hyperemesis gravidarum status and malabsorption syndrome following a gastric bypass. The diagnosis was confirmed by the drastic clinical improvement on replacement therapy withintravenous vitamin B1 before we obtained the blood vitamin B1 level which came back low.Conclusion: Replacement with vitamin B1 should always be started as soon as the clinical suspicion of Wernicke’s encephalopathy is raised to prevent the occurrence of permanent complications.

Article Details

Wernicke Encephalopathy Following Bariatric Surgery and Hyperemesis Gravidarum

Authors:

R. O. Saab | B. J. Bassil | M. I. El Khoury | P. W. Rassam | E. E. Snaifer | R. A. Jabbour

Publisher:

medi+WORLD International

Main Topics:

Medicine

Journal:

World Family Medicine Journal: Incorporating the Middle East Journal of Family Medicine 2014 vol.12 Issue 2, pp.30-32

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

3/2014

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

46122

Frequency:

Monthly

eISSN:

18390196

pISSN:

18390188

DOI:

10.5742/MEFM.2014.92453

Descriptors:

ENCEPHALOPATHY

NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS

BARIATRIC SURGERY

THIAMIN

PREGNANCY DISORDERS

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING

DIAGNOSIS

PATIENTS

Wernicke Encephalopathy

Bariatric Surgery

Hyperemesis Gravidarum

Issues

Article Details

Authors: R. O. Saab | B. J. Bassil | M. I. El Khoury | P. W. Rassam | E. E. Snaifer | R. A. Jabbour

Publisher: medi+WORLD International

Main Topics: Medicine

Journal: World Family Medicine Journal: Incorporating the Middle East Journal of Family Medicine 2014 vol.12 Issue 2, pp.30-32

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 3/2014

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 46122

Frequency: Monthly

eISSN: 18390196

pISSN: 18390188

DOI: 10.5742/MEFM.2014.92453

Descriptors:

Issues

Authors:

R. O. Saab | B. J. Bassil | M. I. El Khoury | P. W. Rassam | E. E. Snaifer | R. A. Jabbour

Publisher:

medi+WORLD International

Main Topics:

Medicine

Journal:

World Family Medicine Journal: Incorporating the Middle East Journal of Family Medicine 2014 vol.12 Issue 2, pp.30-32

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

3/2014

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

46122

Frequency:

Monthly

eISSN:

18390196

pISSN:

18390188

DOI:

10.5742/MEFM.2014.92453