Wernicke’s encephalopathy, refeeding syndrome and wet beriberi after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: the importance of thiamine evaluation

• Published in: European journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 74; no. 4; pp. 659 - 662
• Main Authors: Pacei, Federico, Iaccarino, Laura, Bugiardini, Enrico, Dadone, Viola, De Toni Franceschini, Luisa, Colombo, Chiara
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.04.2020; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 59; 59/57; 692/1807/1876; 692/699/1702/393; 692/699/375/2609; 692/700/2814; Case Report; Case studies; Clinical Nutrition; Complications and side effects; Deficiency diseases; Dizziness; Emergency medical care; Emergency medical services; Encephalopathy; Epidemiology; Gastrectomy; Gastrointestinal surgery; Internal Medicine; Laparoscopy; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Metabolic Diseases; Nausea; Patients; Physicians; Public Health; Surgery; Thiamine; Wernicke's encephalopathy; Italy
• ISSN: 0954-3007; 1476-5640; 1476-5640
• DOI: 10.1038/s41430-020-0583-x

We described the case of a young man with morbid obesity who underwent bariatric surgery who experiences different complications. After the discharge the patient starts to complain about nausea, dizziness, and visual impairment. After a first access to an emergency department, with a diagnosis of labyrinthopathy, the patient gets worse. He then has been hospitalized and a wernicke’s encephalopathy was diagnosed. During the hospitalization other comploication of low thiamine appeared such as wet beriberi. The clinical picture was also complicated with the refeeding syndrome. Wernicke’s encephalopathy, wet beriberi, and refeeding syndrome are life-threatening conditions that can be prevented and treated. Both physicians and patients must be warned about these potential risks in order to put in act a prompt treatment.