Refeeding Syndrome: Recognition Is the Key to Prevention and Management

• Published in: Journal of the American Dietetic Association 2008-12, Vol.108 (12), p.2105-2108
• Main Authors: Tresley, Jonathan, Sheean, Patricia M., PhD, RD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; adverse effects; Anorexia; Anorexia Nervosa - physiopathology; Anorexia Nervosa - psychology; Anorexia Nervosa - therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Disease prevention; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Humans; Internal Medicine; kwashiorkor; Male; Medical research; Morbidity; nutritional intervention; Nutritional Support - adverse effects; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - complications; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - psychology; pathophysiology; Recognition; refeeding; Refeeding Syndrome - prevention & control; Risk Factors; signs and symptoms (animals and humans); starvation; Starvation - physiopathology; Starvation - psychology; Starvation - therapy; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Water-Electrolyte Balance - physiology
• ISSN: 0002-8223; 2212-2672; 1878-3570; 2212-2680
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jada.2008.09.015

Refeeding syndrome is a life-threatening constellation of cardiovascular, pulmonary, hepatic, renal, neuromuscular, metabolic, and hematological abnormalities following inappropriate alimentary resuscitation in severely malnourished or starved individuals. Today, anorexia nervosa is one of the more frequent clinical presentations at risk of refeeding syndrome; however, malnourished elderly patients, oncology patients receiving chemotherapy, and postoperative patients may also be at risk. Here, Tresley and Sheean recommend that to avoid the morbidity and mortality associated with this phenomenon, the recognition of the individuals who are prone to refeeding syndrome is the key to prevention and management.