Encephalopathy in short bowel syndrome: a diagnostic challenge.

A 15-year-old boy was admitted to the hospital due to ataxia, drowsiness and bradypsychia. He was known to have a short bowel syndrome Initial venous blood gases revealed a metabolic acidosis with a high anion gap of 24 mmol/L and normal L-lactate. He improved with fasting and fluids and was discharged with oral metronidazole.