Wernicke's Encephalopathy

A 33 year old white female underwent a gastric stapling procedure for morbid oBesity seven weeks prior to the present admission. She was doing well, on a liquid diet (tea, coffee, water only), until three weeks prior to admission, when she developed persistent vomiting. This did not resolve spontaneously, and she was hospitalized for evaluation. When the vomiting persisted after two days of intravenous fluids only, laparotomy was performed, with lysis of an adhesion presumably causing gastric outlet oBstruction. Twenty four hours after surgery sheBegan to complain of ""unsteadiness"" and diplopia. A neurological consultation was obtained the following day.