Acute painful polyneuropathy after bariatric surgery

Abstract

The prevalence of morbid obesity is increasing worldwide, which over the past decade, has resulted in an increase in the number of obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery. All surgical procedures carry a varying degree of risk; however, bariatric surgery is specifically associated with a number of metabolic, nutritional, and neurological complications. The neurological complications include encephalopathy, peripheral neuropathy, myelopathy, plexopathy, and radiculoneuropathy. This case report involves an 18-year-old female who underwent successful bariatric surgery for morbid obesity. Postoperatively, the patient developed severe painful weakness of the lower limbs and was found to have diffused sensory motor polyneuropathy. It was concluded that sensory-motor polyneuropathy was the most likely cause of the patient's weakness. Reporting this case is important as the author believes that the consequences of bariatric surgery may not be well-known to both patients and surgeons.