REFEEDING SYNDROME

Course overview

INCREASED NUTRITION FOLLOWING A PROLONGED PERIOD OF STARVATION CAN RESULT IN REFEEDING SYNDROME. REFEEDING SYNDROME COMMONLY OCCURS IN POPULATIONS AT HIGH RISK FOR MALNUTRITION RANGING FROM PATIENTS WITH EATING DISORDERS TO RENAL FAILURE PATIENTS ON HEMODIALYSIS. IT CAN BE FATAL IF INAPPROPRIATELY MANAGED IN A TIMELY MANNER DUE TO ELECTROLYTE AND METABOLIC DISTURBANCES THAT MANIFEST IN CARDIOPULMONARY, HEMATOLOGIC, AND NEUROLOGICAL DYSFUNCTION IN THESE TYPES OF PATIENTS. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND TREATMENT OF REFEEDING SYNDROME AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN EVALUATING AND TREATING PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.