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Article
Postbariatric Surgery Hyperammonemia: A Rare Cause of Encephalopathy.
Gastroenterology
  • Janyll Castineira, HCA Healthcare
  • Yevgeniya Goltser, HCA Healthcare
  • Mark Vila, HCA Healthcare
  • Reepal Patel, HCA Healthcare
  • Peggy St Croix
  • Duane Ashe, HCA Healthcare
  • Salah Al-Andary, HCA Healthcare
  • Christopher Halleman, HCA Healthcare
  • Basem Alkurdi, HCA Healthcare
Division
North Florida
Hospital
Largo Medical Center
Document Type
Case Report
Publication Date
7-1-2019
Keywords
  • gastric bypass surgery,
  • hyperammonemic encephalopathy,
  • urea cycle disorder,
  • complications,
  • obesity
Abstract

Hyperammonemic encephalopathy is an under-recognized and potentially fatal complication of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. We present a case of a 42-year-old woman with no known history of liver disease who experienced worsening encephalopathy 1 year after bariatric surgery. She presented with elevated ammonia and severe encephalopathy requiring intubation. A complete workup led to the diagnosis of a urea cycle disorder. The patient was managed with lactulose, ammonia scavenging agents, and nutritional supplementation with a favorable outcome. We report this case to increase awareness of this condition and urge providers to maintain a high clinical suspicion in the appropriate setting.

Publisher or Conference
ACG Case Reports Journal
Citation Information
Castineira J, Goltser Y, Vila M, et al. Postbariatric Surgery Hyperammonemia: A Rare Cause of Encephalopathy. ACG Case Rep J. 2019;6(7):e00119. Published 2019 Jul 22. doi:10.14309/crj.0000000000000119