Wernicke's encephalopathy and thiamine

A shipwrecked drinker is pulled from the water onto a rescue boat. 1. He's mumbling nonsense, can't say what day it is — confusion. 2. He staggers and weaves crossing the deck — ataxiaLoss of full control of body movements, causing an unsteady, uncoordinated gait or actions.Read more → (unsteady gait). 3. His eyes drift and jerk, won't fix on the horizon — ophthalmoplegiaWeakness or paralysis of the muscles that move the eyes.Read more →/nystagmusRepeated, involuntary back-and-forth eye movements.Read more →. 4. The crew crack open the thiamine vial and tip it into him BEFORE they run any glucose fuel line in — thiamine must be given before glucose.