A Bariatric Surgeon Expert Witness was retained on a case involving Wernicke’s Encephalopathy that resulted in a wrongful death case. A Bariatric Surgeon is qualified to speak to negligence following gastric sleeve surgery. With decreased intake of nutrients through restriction and malabsorption, micronutrient deficiency – particularly thiamine – is of great concern.
Knowing that severe post-operative vomiting is not a normal situation, a prudent bariatric surgeon would suspect thiamine deficiency. This serious complication requires immediate intervention with high dose intravenous thiamine.
Gastric Sleeve – Bariatric Surgeon
Left untreated, permanent neurological damage related to Wernicke’s encephalopathy will occur.
Signs and Symptoms of Wernicke’s Encephalopathy: Gait abnormalities up to the full inability to walk or move
- Confusion with loss of mental activity that can progress to coma and death
- Loss of muscle coordination – ataxia that can cause leg tremor
- Vision changes:
- abnormal eye movements – nystagmus
- double vision
- eye lid drooping
Ongoing failure to recognize, diagnose and treat Wernicke’s encephalopathy often results in worsening cognitive decline and death.
How we Can Help Locating a Bariatric Surgeon Expert Witness:
Med League can assist attorneys with a well-qualified Bariatric Surgeon Expert Witness specializing in the post-operative complications of this restrictive surgery. They can provide Affidavit of Merit, Verbal opinions, expert reports and give testimony.
Med League provides medical expert witnesses to trial lawyers. Please call us at (908)788-8227 or contact us today to discuss your next case.
Our Bariatric Surgeon Expert are certified in:
American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
Resources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4631978/
