A series of severe neurological complications following bariatric surgery in France: the NEUROBAR Study

Abstract Background Neurological complications following bariatric surgery are rare, but can have dramatic consequences. Little data are available on this topic. Objectives The aim of the NEUROlogical complications following BARiatric surgery (NEUROBAR) study was to define, which factors (anthropometric, nutritional, surgical etc.) were frequently associated with neurological complications following bariatric surgery. Settings Data were collected by the French Centers of Obesity Care Management hosted in University Hospitals. Methods An online standardized questionnaire was designed and submitted to the 37 French Centers of Obesity Management. This questionnaire included items about patient characteristics, bariatric surgery, neurological complications, nutritional status and management. Patients were retrospectively included from January 2010 to November 2018. Results Thirteen centers included 38 patients (34 females and 4 males) with neurological complications following bariatric surgery. The two main bariatric procedures were gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy. More than half of the patients with neurological complications had a surgical complication following bariatric surgery (53%) and gastrointestinal symptoms including vomiting (53%). Vitamin B deficiencies were frequent (74%) including at least 47% of cases with deficiency in Vitamin B1. Conclusion Early identification of patients with surgical complications and gastrointestinal symptoms after bariatric surgery could help prevent neurological complications related to nutritional deficiencies.