Chronic malnutrition may in fact be an acute emergency.

BACKGROUND

Reintroduction of nutrition to the chronically starved patient presents a constellation of metabolic challenges termed "refeeding syndrome." The consequences of this syndrome--principally hypophosphatemia--may be life threatening. Although previously described in the nutritional literature, little information exists on this syndrome written from the perspective of the emergency physician.

OBJECTIVES

To promote the early use of prophylactic electrolyte replacement in patients at risk of refeeding syndrome.

CASE REPORT

We present the case of a 32-year-old woman with self-inflicted starvation who developed severe hypophosphatemia, hypocalcemia, and hypomagnesemia due to unintended refeeding in the emergency department (ED).

CONCLUSIONS

The acute complications of refeeding syndrome may present during a patient's stay in the ED or during the transition from the ED to a critical care area, and thus this syndrome deserves consideration from the moment a starved patient presents to our triage desks.