著者
中屋 豊 阪上 浩 原田 永勝
出版者
徳島医学会
雑誌
四国医学雑誌 (ISSN:00373699)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.68, no.1, pp.23-28, 2012-04-25

Refeeding syndrome is a potentially fatal medical condition that may affect malnourished patients in response to an inappropriately rapid overfeeding. This commonly occurs following the institution of nutritional support, especially parenteral or enteral nutrition. The most characteristic pathophysiology of refeeding syndrome relates to the rapid consumption of phosphate after glucose intake and subsequent hypophosphatemia. Refeeding syndrome can manifest as either metabolic changes (hypokalaemia, hypophosphataemia, vitamin B1deficiency, and altered glucose metabolism)or physiological changes(cardiac arrhythmias, unconsciousness, seizures, cardiac or respiratory depression) and potentially death. Preventing refeeding syndrome is the primary goal when initiating nutrition support in severely malnourished patients. Clinicians should be aware of refeeding syndrome when they treat malnourished patients, and most importantly take appropriate steps(careful monitoring)to prevent refeeding syndrome.