Wernicke Encephalopathy after Gastrointestinal Surgery

Abstract

We herein describe a child operated for acute abdomen who developed Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) secondary to prolonged total parenteral nutrition (TPN) that lacked vitamin B1 supplementation. The author concluded that surgeons, child neurologists, pediatricians and radiologists need to be aware of the predisposing factors and symptoms of WE. Clinicians need to keep in mind that ophthalmoplegia, ataxia or altered mental status could be findings of WE.