Refeeding oedema

Excerpt

The most severe medical complication during refeeding of patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) is the refeeding syndrome with severe shifts in fluid and electrolyte levels, hypophosphatemia and subsequent muscle weakness, cardiac failure and psychotic symptoms [9]. Hypophosphatemia, one of the earliest clinical indicators of the refeeding syndrome was observed during enteral refeeding in 6–7% of very malnourished adolescent AN patients [9]. However, due to cautious weight gains of maximum 1 kg per week, we have not seen the full clinical picture of the refeeding syndrome for the last 15 years in our institution where approximately 20 AN patients are treated annually [10]. Refeeding oedema is another rare but less precarious complication in the treatment of AN. …