A case of acute coma & respiratory arrest in Wernicke's encephalopathy caused by malnutrition.
- Author:
In Seok SEO
1
;
Seung Hoon LEE
;
Se Hwa KIM
;
Won Seob KIM
;
Ki Se LEE
;
Sun Kyong SONG
;
Wan Gu LEE
;
Eun Hwa KIM
;
Yong Woo CHOI
;
Yong Ung LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Internal medicine, Presbyterian Medical Center, Chonju, Korea.
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Wernicke's encephalopathy;
coma;
doxapram
- MeSH:
Adult;
Aminophylline;
Coma*;
Doxapram;
Humans;
Hypoventilation;
Korea;
Malnutrition*;
Respiration, Artificial;
Respiratory System Agents;
Thiamine;
Weaning;
Wernicke Encephalopathy*
- From:Korean Journal of Medicine
1998;55(1):137-144
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
We shoud give attention to Wernicke's encephalopathy as a cause of sudden coma & respiratory arrest in patients, who are not usually suspected to develop the disorder and empirical treatment with thiamine in cases of coma of unknown cause is recommended. Respiratory stimulants, doxapram & aminophylline have an effect in assisting ventilatory weaning in patient with central hypoventilation as a complication of acute Wernicke's encephalopathy No previous reports where doxapram had been used to assist weaning from mechanical ventilation in adults were noted. Nor has newly developed central hypoventilation been identified as an impediment to weaning in literature to date in Korea. We reported a rare case of Wernicke's encephalopathy caused by poor oral intake & inadequate nutritional suppliment after car accident, showing acute coma & respiratory arrest and treated adequately by thiamine replacement & mechanical ventilation with respiratory stimulant.
