Word parts
What it means
It is seen most in people with long-term heavy alcohol use, and also after long vomiting, starvation or weight-loss surgery. Without enough thiamine, parts of the brain cannot make energy. If not treated quickly it can be fatal or lead to the lasting memory loss of Korsakoff syndromeKOR-suh-kof SIN-dromeA long-lasting brain disorder of memory that results from a severe lack of thiamine (vitamin B1).Full entry . It is named after Carl Wernicke, the German neurologist who described it in 1881.
For the nurse
Give IV thiamine as ordered, and give it before any glucose in clients at risk, since glucose given first can make it worse. Watch for confusion, unsteady walking and abnormal eye movements, and keep the client safe from falls.
At a glance
| Also written | Wernicke's encephalopathy, Wernicke’s encephalopathy |
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Related terms
encephal/o
A word part that means brain.
Korsakoff syndrome
A long-lasting brain disorder of memory that results from a severe lack of thiamine (vitamin B1).