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Washington University Experience | METABOLIC | Wernicke Encephalopathy | 8A0 Case 8 History
Case 8 History ---- The patient was a 71 year-old man with Alzheimer’s dementia complicated by a component of multi-infarct dementia, alcohol abuse, multiple head traumas secondary to falls resulting in brain contusions, subdural hematoma/subarachnoid hemorrhage (status post frontal craniotomy in 2000), a seizure disorder (secondary to head trauma) and a history of aspiration/failure to thrive. An EEG showed moderate general slowing. The patient was found to have an acute pulmonary embolism in his left lower lobe and bilateral lower lobe consolidation thought to be secondary to aspiration. The patient was extubated and did well initially; however, he developed acute respiratory decompensation requiring reintubation. The patient also developed non-oliguric acute renal failure. There was concern for acute tubular necrosis secondary to contrast dye versus ischemia from multiple hypotensive episodes. The patient died soon afterward.
