Lithium Intoxication after Bariatric Surgery: A Case Report

Authors

  • André Ribeirinho Marques Departamento de Psiquiatria e Saúde Mental. Hospital Distrital de Santarém. Santarém.
  • António Alho Departamento de Psiquiatria e Saúde Mental. Hospital Distrital de Santarém. Santarém.
  • João Malhadas Martins Departamento de Psiquiatria e Saúde Mental. Hospital Distrital de Santarém. Santarém.
  • Margarida Bairrão Departamento de Psiquiatria e Saúde Mental. Hospital Distrital de Santarém. Santarém.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20344/amp.12868

Keywords:

Bariatric Surgery, Lithium /adverse effects, Lithium/poisoning

Abstract

Bariatric surgery is a therapeutic option to treat obesity in (carefully selected) patients with psychiatric disorders. About half of the patients referred for bariatric surgery have a diagnosis of (at least one) mental disorder and most of them are treated with psychotropic drugs. This procedure may modify the bioavailability of drugs and lithium is no exception. However, although absorption seems to decrease in most drugs, in the case of lithium, there is a high risk of toxicity. In this article, we describe the case of a 44-year-old female patient with lithium intoxication after bariatric surgery. We conducted a review of the published clinical cases in the scientific literature about lithium toxicity after bariatric surgery, and we propose potential preventive clinical solutions. It is essential to increase awareness of changes to the absorption of psychotropic drugs in the post-surgery period, particularly in the case of lithium. Regular postoperative clinical and laboratory monitoring of lithium serum levels is strongly recommended.

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Author Biographies

André Ribeirinho Marques, Departamento de Psiquiatria e Saúde Mental. Hospital Distrital de Santarém. Santarém.

Departamento de Psiquiatria e Saúde Mental

Médico Interno de Formação Específica em Psiquiatria

António Alho, Departamento de Psiquiatria e Saúde Mental. Hospital Distrital de Santarém. Santarém.

Departamento de Psiquiatria e Saúde Mental

Médico Interno de Formação Específica em Psiquiatria

João Malhadas Martins, Departamento de Psiquiatria e Saúde Mental. Hospital Distrital de Santarém. Santarém.

Departamento de Psiquiatria e Saúde Mental

Médico Assistente Hospitalar de Psiquiatria

Margarida Bairrão, Departamento de Psiquiatria e Saúde Mental. Hospital Distrital de Santarém. Santarém.

Departamento de Psiquiatria e Saúde Mental

Médica Assistente Hospitalar de Psiquiatria

Published

2021-05-02

How to Cite

1.
Marques AR, Alho A, Martins JM, Bairrão M. Lithium Intoxication after Bariatric Surgery: A Case Report. Acta Med Port [Internet]. 2021 May 2 [cited 2024 Mar. 29];34(5):382-6. Available from: https://actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/12868

Issue

Section

Case Report