Archive · 25 Nov 2025
25-Year-Old Develops Brain Damage After Bariatric Surgery
A 25-year-old man had a weight loss surgery and then started feeling very sick.
He couldn't see clearly, walk properly, or remember things.
Doctors found out his brain was damaged because he didn't have enough vitamin B1, which helps the brain work.
The man got better quickly after doctors gave him the right vitamins.
This can happen to people who have weight loss surgery and don't eat enough healthy food.
Doctors say it's important to take the right vitamins after such surgeries to stay healthy.
A 25-year-old man developed severe neurological symptoms three days after bariatric surgery.
Symptoms included blurred vision, double vision, difficulty walking, and forgetfulness.
Diagnosed with Wernicke’s encephalopathy due to thiamine (vitamin B₁) deficiency.
Treatment with high-dose intravenous thiamine led to rapid improvement within days.
Post-bariatric patients are at high risk of thiamine deficiency due to restricted diets and poor nutrient absorption.
- Who
- A 25-year-old man who underwent bariatric surgery
- What
- Developed Wernicke’s encephalopathy due to thiamine deficiency
- When
- Symptoms developed over three days; surgery was three weeks prior
- Where
- Hyderabad, India
- Why
- Thiamine deficiency caused by restricted diet and poor nutrient absorption post-surgery
- Patient Age
- 25 years
- Symptoms
- Blurred and double vision, unsteady gait, forgetfulness, confusion
- Timeframe of Symptoms
- Developed over three days
- Recent Medical History
- Bariatric surgery three weeks prior
- Diagnosis
- Wernicke’s encephalopathy
- Treatment
- High-dose intravenous thiamine injections followed by oral supplementation
- Recovery Time
- Days
- Critical Vitamins Post-Surgery
- Thiamine (vitamin B₁), vitamin B₁₂, folate, iron, calcium, vitamin D