Alcohol and poor compliance as factors in Wernicke's encephalopathy diagnosed 13 years after gastric bypass.

A severely obese man achieved rapid and significant weight loss after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Thirteen years later Wernicke's encephalopathy developed as a result of the patient's alcoholism, poor compliance with his micronutrient intake, poor oral intake and the decreased absorptive ability of the small bowel. In selecting any operation to treat morbid obesity the possibility of metabolic problems must be considered as well as the potential for substantial weight loss.

Selenium and zinc levels in surgical patients receiving total parenteral nutrition.

The zinc and selenium levels of 40 surgical patients were monitored pre- and post-TPN. The initial selenium level was low normal, and the initial zinc level was also low. Both selenium and zinc are potent antioxidants involved in cellular defense against free radicals. Surgical patients are at risk for selenium and zinc deficiencies secondary to both increased needs and losses. TPN blood work protocols should include monitoring of selenium and zinc with supplementation of the nutrient solutions, as required.

Ultrasound-guided compression for the treatment of iatrogenic femoral pseudoaneurysms.

To assess the emerging use of ultrasound-guided compression (USGC) to treat iatrogenic femoral artery pseudoaneurysm (PA), we reviewed the experience in the accredited vascular laboratory of a large community teaching hospital from June 1993 to August 1994. Femoral duplex ultrasonography was done on 94 consecutive patients suspected of having PA. Twenty-eight PAs were found in 27 patients (14 women and 13 men; mean age, 62 years). Causes included cardiac angiography (n = 9), coronary angioplasty (n = 4), coronary stent placement (n = 12), and peripheral angioplasty (n = 3). Aneurysms were identified 1 to 90 days (median, 6 days) after femoral procedures, and their size ranged from 0.9 cm to 8.0 cm (mean, 2.5 cm). Fifteen patients (53%) were receiving systemic anticoagulation, 7 (25%) had spontaneous resolution, 10 (36%) were treated by femoral stitch arteriorrhaphy, and 11 (39%) were treated by USGC. Compression included vascular surgery standby, identification of PA neck (channel to native artery), 10-minute compression intervals to obliterate flow with a 5 MHz duplex ultrasound probe, and restudy at 24 hours. This protocol resulted in successful thrombosis in 8 patients (73%) but failed in 3 patients (37%), who required operative repair. Large aneurysm size, PA neck size, and systemic anticoagulation did not influence successful compression of PAs. Advanced age of the PA and operator inexperience were factors believed to negatively influence success. These data suggest that USGC is safe and effective and causes less morbidity than traditional repair, and it has emerged as the initial treatment of choice for iatrogenic femoral pseudoaneurysms.

Can elevated chromium induce somatopsychic responses?

The possible somatopsychological effects of chromium (Cr) was investigated in a population of patients, from a surgical ward of our hospital, who required total parenteral nutrition (TPN) solutions, and who became exposed to various amounts of this metal from this treatment. The study involved a questionnaire as well as biochemical tests which included serum Cr and other selected trace metals. The renal status for all eligible patients was within normal parameters. The patient population varied in age, pathology, surgical treatment, and duration on TPN. The results showed that every patient who received TPN had an increased serum Cr level; some increases were up to 50-fold above the normal reference level for serum Cr. Although statistical analysis failed to show any significant statistical relationship between an increased serum Cr and the investigated somatopsychological disturbances, this effect cannot be ruled out since one case did show all the dream disturbances. Considering these cases, the action of sedative medications that may suppress the effects of Cr, cannot be ruled out. As Cr(III) may be potentially genotoxic at high concentrations, infusion of this metal over long time periods should be avoided. Supplementation of Cr in TPN solutions appears to be unnecessary for short-term TPN because this metal is a known contaminant of these solutions. Efforts are required to find TPN nutrients with low or no Cr contamination.

Fiber intake of normal weight, moderately obese and severely obese subjects.

The lack of dietary fiber may be a contributing factor in obesity. This study examined the fiber intake of three weight groups: normal (20.0 < or = BMI < or = 27.0), moderately obese (27.1 < or = BMI < or = 39.9) and severely obese (BMI > or = 40.0). Each group contained 50 subjects. Detailed 3-day food records were used to gather the nutritional data. Fiber intake in the normal weight group was 18.8 +/- 9.3 grams, the moderately obese consumed 13.3 +/- 5.8 grams of fiber and the severely obese 13.7 +/- 5.7 grams. Total fiber intake in grams was found to be significantly higher in the lean group (p < 0.05) and was positively associated with sex and education level with men and more highly educated individuals consuming more fiber. Using regression analysis total fiber in grams and fiber in g/1000 kcalories was inversely associated with BMI after adjusting for sex, age, education level and income (p < 0.01). A high fiber diet may help to promote a negative energy balance by causing early satiety secondary to gastric distention. Dietitians and physicians need to emphasize the importance of a high fiber diet to their obese patients.

Abnormal trace elements in a patient on total parenteral nutrition with normal renal function.

OBJECTIVE: To describe trace metal changes in a 74-year-old male patient with mesenteric fibrosis and a small bowel fistula who was maintained on total parenteral nutrition in the hospital and at home. METHODS: Trace elements which included chromium and selenium were monitored over a 14-month period as part of his nutrient follow-up. RESULTS: Serum chromium reached levels > 21-fold the upper reference range, and serum selenium, in contrast, was < 0.5 the lower reference range. Plasma aluminum was also measured, and found to be nearly twice the upper reference range, although the patient had normal renal function. We measured the aluminum content of the parenteral nutrients and additives, and found that replacement of calcium gluconate by calcium chloride helped to reduce the aluminum content in the final parenteral solution by 34%. Aluminum and chromium contaminants found in parenteral solutions need to be reduced or removed to avoid toxic accumulation. CONCLUSION: This study illustrates the importance of adequately adjusting essential trace elements, and monitoring contaminants in parenteral fluids in an individual on total parenteral nutrition.