Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2014 Jun;20(3 Neurology of Systemic Disease):580-97.
doi: 10.1212/01.CON.0000450967.76452.f2.

Neurologic complications of bariatric surgery

Neeraj Kumar
Review

Neurologic complications of bariatric surgery

Neeraj Kumar. Continuum (Minneap Minn). 2014 Jun.

Abstract

Purpose of review: The increasing utilization of bariatric surgery has been accompanied by an increased incidence and awareness of related neurologic complications. The purpose of this review is to provide up-to-date information on the neurologic complications related to bariatric surgery.

Recent findings: Neurologic complications related to bariatric surgery are predominantly due to nutrient deficiencies. Common early complications include Wernicke encephalopathy due to thiamine deficiency, and late complications include myelopathy or myeloneuropathy due to vitamin B12 or copper deficiency.

Summary: Early recognition and prompt institution of treatment is essential to prevent long-term disability. Often, life-long supplementation may be required.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 4-1.
Figure 4-1.
Axial fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) brain MRI of a patient with Wernicke encephalopathy showing bilateral, symmetric, hyperintense signal involving the medial thalami (arrows). This patient also had signal change in the periaqueductal gray matter (not shown). This patient’s Wernicke encephalopathy occurred weeks after bariatric surgery. Reprinted with permission from Foster D, et al, Neurology. © 2005, American Academy of Neurology. www.neurology.org/content/65/12/1987.short?sid=3f566b80-7408-416b-988e-edef3b1bf70d.
Figure 4-2.
Figure 4-2.
Sagittal (A) and axial (B) cervical spine MRI from a patient with copper deficiency myelopathy showing a diffuse cord signal abnormality (arrows) involving the posterior aspect of the cord (dorsal column). Similar MRI findings are seen in vitamin B12 deficiency–associated myelopathy.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Mechanick JI,, Kushner RF,, Sugerman HJ, et al. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, The Obesity Society, and American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery Medical guidelines for clinical practice for the perioperative nutritional, metabolic, and nonsurgical support of the bariatric surgery patient. Endocr Pract 2008; 14 (suppl 1): 1–83. - PubMed
    1. Buchwald H. Metabolic surgery: a brief history and perspective. Surg Obes Relat Dis 2010; 6 (2): 221–222. - PubMed
    1. Mechanick JI,, Youdim A,, Jones DB, et al. Clinical practice guidelines for the perioperative nutritional, metabolic, and nonsurgical support of the bariatric surgery patient—2013 update: cosponsored by American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, The Obesity Society, and American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2013; 21 (suppl 1): S1–S27. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Abarbanel JM,, Berginer VM,, Osimani A, et al. Neurologic complications after gastric restriction surgery for morbid obesity. Neurology 1987; 37 (2): 196–200. - PubMed
    1. Berger JR. The neurological complications of bariatric surgery. Arch Neurol 2004; 61 (8): 1185–1189. - PubMed