Pathophysiology, treatment, and prevention of fluid and electrolyte abnormalities during refeeding syndrome

An unexpectedly high incidence of refeeding syndrome in patients with total parenteral nutrition in a reference university hospital

INTRODUCTION

Refeeding syndrome occurs with the reintroduction of food after an individual has undergone a substantial period of malnutrition. The development of this condition is not uncommon but is neglected in most cases.

OBJECTIVE

To identify the incidence of refeeding syndrome in hospitalized patients undergoing total parenteral nutrition and factors that may be associated with this condition.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Observational retrospective and prospective cohort study. Data collection took place at the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, from 2015 to 2018. Data was collected consecutively from patient electronic medical records. All hospitalized individuals aged 18 years or more and having a prescription for total parenteral nutrition were included in the study. Exclusion criteria included patients with diabetic ketoacidosis; receiving renal replacement therapy or chronic kidney disease with a glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min; severe metabolic acidosis or any disease that could affect serum phosphorus levels. WinPepi software, version 11.65, was used to calculate sample size. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 20.0. A 5% significance level was considered for the established comparisons. The project was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (number 17-0313).

RESULTS

Data from 97 patients was collected. The incidence of refeeding syndrome in our sample was 43.3% (n = 42). Factors positively associated with the syndrome were use of standard parenteral nutrition (p < 0.01), advancing age (mean 62.8 yr versus 55.1 yr; p = 0.013), and amount of total energy administered, which were 25.6 kcal/kg/day versus 23.6 kcal/kg/day for patients with and without refeeding syndrome, respectively (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The incidence of refeeding syndrome in individuals using total parenteral nutrition was high. The supply of a greater quantity of total energy in the first week of nutritional therapy, the absence of electrolytes in the parenteral nutrition solution and advancing age were all factors associated with the emergence of refeeding syndrome.

Refeeding syndrome in the gastroenterology practice: how concerned should we be?

Clinical nutrition is emerging as a major area in gastroenterology practice. Most gastrointestinal disorders interfere with digestive physiology and compromise nutritional status. Refeeding syndrome (RS) may increase morbidity and mortality in gastroenterology patients. Literature search using the keywords "Refeeding Syndrome", "Hypophosphatemia", "Hypomagnesemia" and "Hypokalemia". Data regarding definition, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, risk factors, management and prevention of RS were collected. Most evidence comes from case reports, narrative reviews and scarse observational trials. RS results from the potentially fatal shifts in fluid and electrolytes that may occur in malnourished patients receiving nutritional therapy. No standard definition is established and epidemiologic data is lacking. RS is characterized by hypophosphatemia, hypomagnesemia, hypokalemia, vitamin deficiency and abnormal glucose metabolism. Oral, enteral and parenteral nutrition may precipitate RS. Awareness and risk stratification using NICE criteria is essential to prevent and manage malnourished patients. Nutritional support should be started using low energy replacement and thiamine supplementation. Correction of electrolytes and fluid imbalances must be started before feeding. Malnourished patients with inflammatory bowel disease, liver cirrhosis, chronic intestinal failure and patients referred for endoscopic gastrostomy due to prolonged dysphagia present high risk of RS, in the gastroenterology practice. RS should be considered before starting nutritional support. Preventive measures are crucial, including fluid and electrolyte replacement therapy, vitamin supplementation and use of hypocaloric regimens. Gastroenterology patients must be viewed as high risk patients but the impact of RS in the outcome is not clearly defined in current literature.

Hydroelectrolytic and infectious complications in one year of parenteral nutrition in critical care

OBJECTIVE

Parenteral nutrition consists of the intravenous administration of macronutrients, micronutrients and electrolytes. Our objectives were to evaluate the biochemical alterations during the first ten days of initiation and to quantify the bacteremia related to the central venous catheter during the administration of parenteral nutrition.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospective study of incidence and prevalence. We included 51 patients who started intravenous nutritional support therapy at Critical Care. We intend to know the infectious complications of the central line associated with parenteral nutrition, to evaluate the most frequent hydroelectrolytic complications of parenteral nutrition, and to identify minimum control points in the detection of hydroelectrolytic alterations.

RESULTS

Statistically significant daily variations were found for glucose, magnesium, potassium and creatinine, and bordering on the statistical significance for albumin and phosphate, the alterations occurring between the second and third days fundamentally. Hypoalbuminemia and hypocalcemia were very frequent. GGT was the liver enzyme that increased more frequently. The infection rate was 14.86 per 1,000 days of central venous catheter.

CONCLUSIONS

We found daily variations in glucose, potassium and magnesium, as well as a decrease in creatinine. We emphasize the frequency of hypoalbuminemia, hypocalcemia and elevation of GGT. The most important variations occurred between the second and third day, highlighting the precocity of potassium alteration and the peak of glycemia. The rate of infection related to the central venous catheter in patients with parenteral nutrition was high.

What a Trainee Surgeon Should Know About Refeeding Syndrome: A Literature Review

Refeeding syndrome (RFS) is potentially fatal, yet there is limited understanding regarding its management among general surgeons due in part to a lack of universally accepted guidelines for RFS diagnosis. The aim of this review is to equip general surgery trainees with the essentials of RFS including a review of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) best practice guidelines for RFS. We used the keywords "refeeding", "syndrome", and "hypophosphatemia" to search PubMed, Embase, and Medline databases. We reviewed approximately 130 indexed papers for relevance. Having profound knowledge of nutritional needs in critically ill patients will help trainee surgeons prevent illnesses in the spectrum of RFS, and, over time, this would immensely contribute to reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with RFS.