Incidence of Refeeding Syndrome in Pediatric Inpatients at the US-Mexico Border.

OBJECTIVES: Refeeding syndrome is a life-threatening, physiological process that occurs when patients with severe malnutrition are too rapidly rehabilitated, leading to the development of electrolyte abnormalities. Hypophosphatemia, a hallmark of the disease, has most commonly been studied, because it is recognized to result in cardiac arrhythmias, seizures, cardiac failure, respiratory failure, rhabdomyolysis, coma, and even death. Although many studies have found caloric intake to be a main causal factor in refeeding syndrome, few have explored other factors, such as geographic location. Border cities, such as El Paso, Texas, have a unique, diverse population. The purpose of this study was to establish the incidence of refeeding syndrome concentrated within a border city. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review that focused on the incidence of refeeding syndrome in pediatric patients with eating disorders, ages 10 to 19 years, admitted to El Paso Children's Hospital, the only tertiary teaching hospital in the area, associated with Texas Tech University Health Science Center, located along the US-Mexico border, in El Paso, Texas. RESULTS: Twenty-six subjects with a diagnosis of eating disorder were admitted to El Paso Children's Hospital for treatment between 2012 and 2019. Five subjects developed refeeding syndrome, recognized in our study as hypokalemia or hypomagnesemia, during their treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Among hospitalized adolescents admitted to El Paso Children's Hospital, 19% developed refeeding syndrome. This incidence was higher in our population than had been previously reported. Further research is needed to better establish a protocol for the treatment of patients with eating disorders.

Coma irreversível em paciente portadora de esquizofrenia paranóide: encefalopatia de Wernicke após síndrome de realimentação: um relato de caso / Irreversible coma in a patient with paranoid schizophrenia: Wernicke encephalopathy after refeeding syndrome: a case report

Encefalopatia de Wernicke (EW) e síndrome de realimentação (SR) são duas condições frequentemente coexistentes, subdiagnosticadas e que podem implicar prognóstico reservado após sua instalação. Sua identificação precoce representa um desafio para os intensivistas, haja vista a falta de sensibilidade e especificidade das manifestações clínicas. Apresenta-se um relato de caso de uma paciente portadora de esquizofrenia paranoide, sem histórico de abuso de álcool, que desenvolveu quadro de coma irreversível após greve de fome, sendo feito diagnóstico tardio de EW associada a SR. Descreve-se a evolução clínica e neuropsiquiátrica com o intuito de enfatizar a necessidade crucial de alta suspeição diagnóstica, com reposição vitamínica imediata, vigilância de distúrbios eletrolíticos e progressão parcimoniosa do aporte nutricional. (AU)

Wernicke encephalopathy (WE) and refeeding syndrome (RFS) are two often coexisting, underdiagnosed conditions that may involve a poor prognosis after their onset. Early identification represents a challenge for intensivists, given the lack of sensitivity and specificity of clinical manifestations. We report a case of a patient with paranoid schizophrenia, without a history of alcohol abuse, who developed irreversible coma after a hunger strike, with a late diagnosis of WE associated with RFS. The clinical and neuropsychiatric outcomes are described herein in order to emphasize the crucial need for a high diagnostic suspicion, with immediate vitamin replacement, monitoring of electrolyte disorders, and gradual progression of nutritional support. (AU)

Refeeding syndrome in adults receiving total parenteral nutrition: An audit of practice at a tertiary UK centre.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The key to preventing refeeding syndrome (RS) is identifying and appropriately managing patients at risk. We evaluated our clinical management of RS risk in patients starting total parenteral nutrition (TPN). METHODS: Patients commencing TPN at University College London Hospital between January and July 2015 were prospectively followed-up for 7-days. Eighty patients were risk assessed for RS and categorized into risk groups. High and low risk RS groups were compared focussing on the onset of biochemical features of RS (hypophosphatemia, hypokalaemia and hypomagnesemia) and initial clinical assessment. Statistical analysis was conducted using t-tests and Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS: Sixty patients (75%) were identified as high-risk for RS and received lower initial calories (12.8 kcal/kg/day, p < 0.05). All high-risk patients received a high potency vitamin preparation compared to 35% in the low risk group (p < 0.05). Daily phosphate, magnesium and potassium plasma levels were monitored for seven days in 25%, 30% and 53.8% of patients, respectively. Hypophosphatemia developed in 30% and hypomagnesaemia and hypokalaemia in 27.5% of all patients. Approximately 84% of patients had one or more electrolyte abnormalities, which occurred more frequently in high-risk RS patients (p < 0.05). Low risk patients developed mild hypophosphatemia at a much lower percentage than high-risk RS (20% vs 33.3%, respectively). CONCLUSION: A significant proportion of patients commencing TPN developed biochemical features of RS (but no more serious complications) despite nutritional assessment, treatment, and follow up in accordance with national recommendations. High vs low risk RS patients were more likely to have electrolyte abnormalities after receiving TPN regardless of preventative measures. Additional research is required to further optimise the initial nutritional approach to prevent RS in high-risk patients.

Síndrome de realimentação em idosos: estudo de uma série de cinco casos / Refeeding syndrome in elderly individuals: evaluation of a series of five cases

Introdução: A subnutrição é um problema frequente em idosos e sua prevalência aumenta entre os mais frágeis, tornando prioritária uma adequada oferta nutricional diante de eventos agudos. Entretanto, tal oferta, em pacientes desnutridos ou com privação calórica subaguda, pode ocasionar alterações hidroeletrolíticas associadas a sintomas neurológicos, respiratórios e cardiológicos, incluindo falência cardíaca. Esses distúrbios ocorrem poucos dias após a introdução da dieta, o que caracteriza a síndrome de realimentação. Metodologia: Avaliou-se retrospectivamente cinco pacientes idosos internados por causa clínica e que desenvolveram síndrome de realimentação durante a internação hospitalar. Resultados: Todos os pacientes analisados eram desnutridos e frágeis, dos quais quatro eram do sexo feminino. A idade variou entre 82 e 85 anos e o tempo de privação alimentar entre 7 e 15 dias. Três pacientes eram portadores de demência grave e foram admitidos com delirium hipoativo. Hipofosfatemia ocorreu em 100% da amostra, seguida por hipocalemia (60%) e hipomagnesemia (40%). Quatro pacientes cursaram com edema periférico (80%), dois apresentaram íleo metabólico e três idosos (os que apresentaram menores níveis de fosfato) faleceram durante a internação. Conclusão: Todos os casos de síndrome de realimentação analisados cursaram com hipofosfatemia, com desfecho fatal naqueles com menores níveis deste íon. A associação com edema e íleo metabólico foi comum. Dada a escassez de dados disponíveis na literatura, novos estudos são de extrema importância. A avaliação eletrolítica antes e após o início de suporte nutricional é imprescindível em pacientes de risco, auxiliando no reconhecimento e no tratamento precoce dessa grave condição.

Introduction: Undernourishment is a common health problem among elderly individuals, and its prevalence grows among frail patients, which makes nutritional support a priority, especially in acute diseases. However, providing nutritional support to undernourished patients or to those under acute caloric deprivation may lead to electrolyte disturbances associated with neurological, respiratory, and cardiac symptoms, including cardiac arrest. These disturbances occur a few days after receiving nutritional support, and characterize the refeeding syndrome. Methodology: Five elderly patients hospitalized for clinical reasons and who developed refeeding syndrome during the duration of the stay, were retrospectively evaluated. Results: All patients analyzed were malnourished and frail, of whom four were women. The age group ranged between 82 and 85 years, and food deprivation time ranged between 7 to 15 days. Three patients had severe dementia and were admitted with hypoactive delirium. Hypophosphatemia occurred in 100% of the sample, followed by hypokalemia (60%) and hypomagnesemia (40%). Four patients developed peripheral edema, two developed metabolic ileus and three elderly persons (who had lower phosphorus values) died during the hospital stay. Conclusion: All refeeding syndrome patients developed hypophosphatemia, with fatal outcome among those whose phosphorus values were lower. The development of peripheral edema and metabolic ileus was frequent. Owing to the lack of data in literature, new researches on refeeding syndrome are extremely important. Electrolyte evaluation before and after nutritional support in patients at risk, is indispensable to facilitate recognition and treatment of this severe condition.

Refeeding Syndrome: Nursing Implications / Síndrome de Realimentação: Implicações de Enfermagem / Síndrome de Realimentación: Implicaciones de la Enfermería

Objective: To identify the etiological and physiological aspects on RS and describe the main nursing approaches aimed at preventing and reducing injuries from RS. Method: Exploratory bibliographic research, of literature and from an online database: Biblioteca Virtual de Saúde (BVS). Results: RS is characterized by manifestations that are directly related to an electrolyte disorder. Its tems from the reintroduction of nutritional support in malnourished patients, which can cause lethal damages. Conclusion: The studied scientific production reveals sparse theoretical production on nursing care towards RS, and that is related to the process of nutrition al repletion associated with enteral and parenteral nutrition therapy in which the nurse must be aware to know provide adequate care.

Objetivo: Identificar os aspectos etiológicos e fisiológicos acerca da SR, descrever as principais condutas do (a)enfermeiro(a),visando a prevenção e redução de agravos oriundos da SR. Método: Pesquisa bibliográfica,com caráter exploratório,realizada através de consulta em livros e banco de dados: Biblioteca Virtual de Saúde (BVS). Resultados: A SR é caracterizada por manifestações que estão diretamente relacionadas por uma disfunção eletrolítica. Decorre a partir da reintrodução do aporte nutricional em pacientes mal nutridos, que pode desencadear danos letais ao paciente. Conclusão: A produção científica estudada aponta uma escassa produção teórica acerca dos cuidados de enfermagem frente à SR e que está se relaciona ao processo de repleção nutricional associado à terapia nutricional enteral e parenteral em que o(a) enfermeiro (a) deve estar ciente para saber prestar uma adequada assistência.

Objetivos: Identificar los aspectos etiológicos y fisiológicos sobre el SR, describir los principales conductas de las enfermeras, destinadas a prevenir y reducir las lesiones por el síndrome de realimentación. Método: Se trata una búsqueda bibliográfica, con un carácter exploratorio, realizada por los libros de consulta y base de datos: Biblioteca Virtual en Salud (BSV). Resultados: El SR se caracteriza por las manifestaciones que están directamente relacionadas con un trastorno electrolítico. Se desprende de la reintroducción de la nutrición em los pacientes desnutridos, lo que puede causar daños letal es para el paciente. Conclusión: La producción científica demuestra uma señala un escasa producción teórica sobre los cuidados de la enfermería con el SR y que este proceso está relacionado con la repleción nutricional asociadas con la terapia de la nutrición enteral y parenteral donde la enfermeira debe conocer para proporcionar una atención adecuada.

Nutrición parenteral: elementos traza, energía, complicaciones y monitorización / Parenteral nutrition: trace elements, energy, complications and monitoring

En el niño enfermo, una excelente alternativa en caso de no contar con nutrición enteral, es la nutrición parenteral (NP). Los requerimientos de los elementos traza, no están bien definidos. El síndrome de realimentación se puede presentar en niños con desnutrición moderada o grave, con desequilibrio metabólico y electrolítico. Las complicaciones pueden ser infecciosas, metabólicas, mecánicas, hepáticas, gastrointestinales, y psicológicas. En la práctica clínica la monitorización de los parámetros bioquímicos, mecánicos y antropométricos debe ser seguida. La nutrición domiciliaria, debe ser el objetivo fundamental en pacientes que dependen al 100% del apoyo por NP.

In the sick child, an excellent alternative if you do not have enteral nutrition is parenteral nutrition (PN). The requirements of trace elements are not well defined. The refeeding síndrome can occur in children with moderate or severe malnutrition, metabolic and electrolyte imbalance. Complications can be infectious, metabolic, mechannical, hepatic, gastrointestinal, and psychological. In clinical practice the monitoring of biochemical parameters and anthropometric mechanics must be followed. Home nutrition should be the primary goal in patients who dependo n the support 100% of the PN.