Wernicke's encephalopathy post subtotal extended gastrectomy.

Abstract

Wernicke's encephalopathy, neuropathy caused by a deficiency of thiamine is a syndrome characterized by memory troubles, mental confusion, ophthalmoplegia and nystagmus. The authors present a case that came up in a patient who underwent a subtotal gastrectomy because of malignant neoplasm of the stomach. More or less three months after the intervention the patient's general conditions were considerably declined and characterised by alimentary vomit, sensory obnubilation and neuromuscular deficit. After appropriate diagnostic ascertainments a repetition of the neoplastic disease was to be excluded locally and at a distance. So the authors analysed the different etiopathogenic possibilities to get a better clinical view of the syndrome in the surgical patient.