Wernicke’s Encephalopathy Complicated by Postoperative Digestive Fistula and Severe Nutritional Deficits

Wernicke’s encephalopathy (WE) is a neurological disorder caused by thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency, often seen in patients with chronic alcoholism, malnutrition, or conditions impairing thiamine absorption. This case report discusses a 50-year-old woman with no significant medical history who developed WE following surgery for ileo-colic intussusception, complicated by a postoperative digestive fistula and severe nutritional deficits. The patient's clinical course emphasizes the need to consider WE in the differential diagnosis of neurological symptoms in patients with gastrointestinal diseases and postoperative complications, especially when risk factors for thiamine deficiency are present.