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Review
. 2000 Sep;57(9):1356-9.
doi: 10.1001/archneur.57.9.1356.

Wernicke-korsakoff encephalopathy and polyneuropathy after gastroplasty for morbid obesity: report of a case

F Cirignotta  1 , M Manconi, S Mondini, G Buzzi, P Ambrosetto
Affiliations
Review

Wernicke-korsakoff encephalopathy and polyneuropathy after gastroplasty for morbid obesity: report of a case

F Cirignotta et al. Arch Neurol. 2000 Sep.

Abstract

Background: Gastric partitioning is a surgical procedure for the treatment of morbid obesity that may engender neurological complications, such as Wernicke encephalopathy and polyneuropathy.

Setting: A specialist hospital.

Patient: A 36-year-old woman developed Wernicke-Korsakoff encephalopathy and polyneuropathy 3 months after gastroplasty for morbid obesity. A magnetic resonance scan documented the diagnosis, and a clear improvement occurred after parenteral thiamine treatment. In our patient and in previously described cases of the literature, postsurgical vomiting is a constant finding that seems to be the precipitating factor of neurological complications of gastric partitioning.

Conclusion: Persistent vomiting after gastroplasty for morbid obesity should be considered an alarming symptom to treat immediately with appropriate measures.

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