Acute Confusion and Double Vision Post-Bariatric Surgery
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47363/JCCEM/2022(1)107Keywords:
Wernicke Encephalopathy, Thiamine Deficiency, Bariatric Surgery, Acute Confusion, Case ReportAbstract
Background: Bariatric surgeries are one of the most commonly performed procedures for the treatment of morbidly obese people. Post-operative
complications are not uncommon. These potential health risks can be both, short-term or long-term and it falls into two categories: Surgery-related or
Nutritional deficiencies- related.
Case Presentation: We report 18 years old male patient with Wernicke’s encephalopathy presenting as acute confusion and double visison.Pateint underwent gastric sleeve procedure two months prior. The patient’s vital signs were unremarkable and he had no past history significant. Neurological exam revealed nystagmus, gaze palsy and ataxic gait. CT scan brain was unremarkable. Thiamine was administered and patient was admitted. MRI was performed which showed signs, highly suggestive of Wernicke encephalopathy likely due to Thiamine deficiency.
Conclusion: While dealing with presentation of neurological features such as memory impairment, gait abnormalities, diplopia or other neurological
symptoms, in a postgastric sleeve patient, nutritional deficiency syndrome such as Wernicke’s encephalopathy should be borne in mind in line with evaluating the patient for other organic causes.
