Refeeding Syndrome

Exam Cram

• Refeeding Syndrome is severe hypophosphatasemia that occurs when malnourished individuals receive carbohydrates, because of their low phosphate

• Carbohydrate ingestion causes insulin release which further lowers their phosphate into dangerous levels, severe hypophosphatasemia can cause cardiac arrythmias (arrest) and coma

• Prevention: 

  1. Checking phosphate in malnourished individuals: cancer cachexia, anorexia nervosa, alcoholics

  2. Replacing phosphate prior to giving feed

Written 2024