Abstract
Obesity has attained pandemic proportions, and bariatric surgery is increasingly being employed resulting in turn to more neurological complications which must be recognized and managed. Neurological complications may result from mechanical or inflammatory mechanisms but primarily result from micro-nutritional deficiencies. Vitamin B12, thiamine, and copper constitute the most frequent deficiencies. Neurological complications may occur at reasonably predictable times after bariatric surgery and are associated with the type of surgery used. During the early post-operative period, compressive or stretch peripheral nerve injury, rhabdomyolysis, Wernicke’s encephalopathy, and inflammatory polyradiculoneuropathy may occur. Late complications ensue after months to years and include combined system degeneration (vitamin B12 deficiency) and hypocupric myelopathy. Bariatric surgery patients require careful nutritional follow-up with routine monitoring of micronutrients at 6 weeks and 3, 6, and 12 months post-operatively and then annually after surgery and multivitamin supplementation for life. Sustained vigilance for common and rare neurological complications is essential.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance
Ogden CL et al. Prevalence of childhood and adult obesity in the United States, 2011–2012. JAMA. 2014;311(8):806–14.
Krispel CM et al. Undiagnosed papilledema in a morbidly obese patient population: a prospective study. J Neuroophthalmol. 2011;31(4):310–5.
Levin AA, Hess D, Hohler AD. Treatment of idiopathic intracranial hypertension with gastric bypass surgery. Int J Neurosci. 2015;125(1):78–80.
Marton E et al. Pseudotumor cerebri in pediatric age: role of obesity in the management of neurological impairments. Nutr Neurosci. 2008;11(1):25–31.
Spitznagel MB et al. Neurocognitive effects of obesity and bariatric surgery. Eur Eat Disord Rev. 2015.
Bolen SD et al. Clinical outcomes after bariatric surgery: a five-year matched cohort analysis in seven US states. Obes Surg. 2012;22(5):749–63.
Chang SH et al. The effectiveness and risks of bariatric surgery: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis, 2003–2012. JAMA Surg. 2014;149(3):275–87.
Livingston EH. Is bariatric surgery worth it?: comment on “Impact of bariatric surgery on health care costs of obese persons”. JAMA Surg. 2013;148(6):562.
Livingston EH. The incidence of bariatric surgery has plateaued in the U.S. Am J Surg. 2010;200(3):378–85.
Livingston EH. Bariatric surgery in the new millennium. Arch Surg. 2007;142(10):919–22.
Puzziferri N et al. Long-term follow-up after bariatric surgery: a systematic review. JAMA. 2014;312(9):934–42.
Torpy JM, Lynm C, Livingston EH. JAMA patient page. Bariatric surgery. JAMA. 2012;308(11):1173.
Aasheim ET et al. Peripheral neuropathy and severe malnutrition following duodenal switch. Obes Surg. 2008;18(12):1640–3.
Rudnicki SA. Prevention and treatment of peripheral neuropathy after bariatric surgery. Curr Treat Options Neurol. 2010;12(1):29–36.
Thaisetthawatkul P et al. Good nutritional control may prevent polyneuropathy after bariatric surgery. Muscle Nerve. 2010;42(5):709–14.
Ziegler O et al. Medical follow up after bariatric surgery: nutritional and drug issues. General recommendations for the prevention and treatment of nutritional deficiencies. Diabetes Metab. 2009;35(6 Pt 2):544–57.
Frantz DJ. Neurologic complications of bariatric surgery: involvement of central, peripheral, and enteric nervous systems. Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2012;14(4):367–72.
Koffman BM et al. Neurologic complications after surgery for obesity. Muscle Nerve. 2006;33(2):166–76.
Thaisetthawatkul P et al. A controlled study of peripheral neuropathy after bariatric surgery. Neurology. 2004;63(8):1462–70.
Gudzune KA et al. Screening and diagnosis of micronutrient deficiencies before and after bariatric surgery. Obes Surg. 2013;23(10):1581–9.
Becker DA et al. Dry Beriberi and Wernicke’s encephalopathy following gastric lap band surgery. J Clin Neurosci. 2012;19(7):1050–2.
Kuhn AL et al. Vitamin B1 in the treatment of Wernicke’s encephalopathy due to hyperemesis after gastroplasty. J Clin Neurosci. 2012;19(9):1303–5.
Loh Y et al. Acute Wernicke’s encephalopathy following bariatric surgery: clinical course and MRI correlation. Obes Surg. 2004;14(1):129–32.
Makarewicz W et al. Wernicke’s syndrome after sleeve gastrectomy. Obes Surg. 2007;17(5):704–6.
Manatakis DK, Georgopoulos N. A fatal case of Wernicke’s encephalopathy after sleeve gastrectomy for morbid obesity. Case Rep Surg. 2014;2014:281210.
Milone M et al. Wernicke encephalopathy in subjects undergoing restrictive weight loss surgery: a systematic review of literature data. Eur Eat Disord Rev. 2014;22(4):223–9.
Sola E et al. Rapid onset of Wernicke’s encephalopathy following gastric restrictive surgery. Obes Surg. 2003;13(4):661–2.
Landais A. Neurological complications of bariatric surgery. Obes Surg. 2014;24(10):1800–7. Dr. Landais reports two cases of neurological complications following bariatric surgery in Europe and then does a comprehensive review with careful attention to the timing of complications.
Berger JR, Singhal D. The neurologic complications of bariatric surgery. Handb Clin Neurol. 2014;120:587–94. Dr. Berger and Singhal provide a contemporary overview of neurological complications of bariatric surgery.
Chang CG, Adams-Huet B, Provost DA. Acute post-gastric reduction surgery (APGARS) neuropathy. Obes Surg. 2004;14(2):182–9.
Manzanares W, Hardy G. Thiamine supplementation in the critically ill. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2011;14(6):610–7.
Becker DA, Balcer LJ, Galetta SL. The neurological complications of nutritional deficiency following bariatric surgery. J Obes. 2012;2012:608534.
Fragoso YD et al. Neurological complications following bariatric surgery. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2012;70(9):700–3.
Sawicka-Pierko A et al. Nutritional optic neuropathy following bariatric surgery. Wideochir Inne Tech Maloinwazyjne. 2014;9(4):662–6.
Tack J, Deloose E. Complications of bariatric surgery: dumping syndrome, reflux and vitamin deficiencies. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2014;28(4):741–9.
Chen M et al. Hematological disorders following gastric bypass surgery: emerging concepts of the interplay between nutritional deficiency and inflammation. Biomed Res Int. 2013;2013:205467.
Balsa JA et al. Copper and zinc serum levels after derivative bariatric surgery: differences between Roux-en-Y Gastric bypass and biliopancreatic diversion. Obes Surg. 2011;21(6):744–50.
Gletsu-Miller N et al. Incidence and prevalence of copper deficiency following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. Int J Obes (Lond). 2012;36(3):328–35.
Halfdanarson TR et al. Hematological manifestations of copper deficiency: a retrospective review. Eur J Haematol. 2008;80(6):523–31.
Jaiser SR, Winston GP. Copper deficiency myelopathy. J Neurol. 2010;257(6):869–81.
Plantone D et al. Copper deficiency myelopathy: a report of two cases. J Spinal Cord Med. 2014.
Tan JC, Burns DL, Jones HR. Severe ataxia, myelopathy, and peripheral neuropathy due to acquired copper deficiency in a patient with history of gastrectomy. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2006;30(5):446–50.
Yarandi SS et al. Optic neuropathy, myelopathy, anemia, and neutropenia caused by acquired copper deficiency after gastric bypass surgery. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2014;48(10):862–5.
Boldery R et al. Nutritional deficiency of selenium secondary to weight loss (bariatric) surgery associated with life-threatening cardiomyopathy. Heart Lung Circ. 2007;16(2):123–6.
Chang CG et al. Weakness after gastric bypass. Obes Surg. 2002;12(4):592–7.
Ishaque N et al. Guillain-Barre syndrome (demyelinating) six weeks after bariatric surgery: a case report and literature review. Obes Res Clin Pract. 2015.
Landais AF. Rare neurologic complication of bariatric surgery: acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN), a severe motor axonal form of the Guillain Barre syndrome. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2014;10(6):e85–7.
Machado FC et al. Acute axonal polyneuropathy with predominant proximal involvement: an uncommon neurological complication of bariatric surgery. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2006;64(3A):609–12.
Hu WT et al. Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency presenting as encephalopathy during adulthood following bariatric surgery. Arch Neurol. 2007;64(1):126–8.
Dahlquist NR et al. D-Lactic acidosis and encephalopathy after jejunoileostomy: response to overfeeding and to fasting in humans. Mayo Clin Proc. 1984;59(3):141–5.
Forsyth RJ, Moulden A, Hull D. D-Lactate associated encephalopathy in short bowel syndrome: management with long-term non-absorbable oral antimicrobials. Clin Nutr. 1991;10(6):352–5.
Hingorani AD, Chan NN. D-lactate encephalopathy. Lancet. 2001;358(9295):1814.
Htyte N et al. An extreme and life-threatening case of recurrent D-lactate encephalopathy. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2011;26(4):1432–5.
Kadakia SC. D-lactic acidosis in a patient with jejunoileal bypass. J Clin Gastroenterol. 1995;20(2):154–6.
Kowlgi NG, Chhabra L. D-lactic acidosis: an underrecognized complication of short bowel syndrome. Gastroenterol Res Pract. 2015;2015:476215. D-lactate acidosis with encephalopathy is probably widely unknown to neurologists but is a serious consideration in patient’s whose gastrointestinal tract has been altered surgically for disease or for bariatric purposes.
Thurn JR et al. D-lactate encephalopathy. Am J Med. 1985;79(6):717–21.
Traube M, Bock JL, Boyer JL. D-Lactic acidosis after jejunoileal bypass: identification of organic anions by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Ann Intern Med. 1983;98(2):171–3.
Uribarri J, Oh MS, Carroll HJ. D-lactic acidosis. A review of clinical presentation, biochemical features, and pathophysiologic mechanisms. Medicine (Baltimore). 1998;77(2):73–82.
Javorsky BR et al. Discovery of Cushing’s syndrome after bariatric surgery: multicenter series of 16 patients. Obes Surg, 2015. Javorsky and colleagues draw our attention to the possibility of patients with pre-existing Cushing’s disease entering the bariatric surgery cohort. These patients are significantly less likely to have amelioration of obesity related co-morbidities.
Devlieger R, Jans G, Matthys C. Outcomes of pregnancy after bariatric surgery. N Engl J Med. 2015;372(23):2266.
Folope V, Coeffier M, Dechelotte P. Nutritional deficiencies associated with bariatric surgery. Gastroenterol Clin Biol. 2007;31(4):369–77.
Jans G et al. Maternal micronutrient deficiencies and related adverse neonatal outcomes after bariatric surgery: a systematic review. Adv Nutr. 2015;6(4):420–9.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of Interest
Jerry Clay Goodman declares that he has no conflict of interest.
Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent
This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.
Additional information
This article is part of the Topical Collection on Neurology of Systemic Disease
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Goodman, J.C. Neurological Complications of Bariatric Surgery. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 15, 79 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-015-0597-2
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-015-0597-2