Refeeding syndrome after small bowel obstruction - a case report
Authors: Ashley Reed
Background: Refeeding Syndrome (RS) is an under-recognised pathophysiological process that can result in arrhythmias, coma and death if not identified and managed appropriately. Case Presentation This case report discusses RS in a 77 year-old female who presented with six days of total anorexia secondary to abdominal pain and vomiting. The patient was identified to have an ischaemic closed loop obstruction of the small bowel in the right femoral hernia with associated proximal small bowel obstruction. Following a small bowel resection, nutrition was reintroduced where on day three the patient developed hypophosphatemia, the hallmark of RS. Conclusion This case highlights the importance of considering RS in patients with a seemingly short duration of starvation due to acute intercurrent illness such as in this case a small bowel obstruction.
Keywords: Refeeding syndrome, hypophosphatemia, starvation, acute illness, small bowel obstruction, emergency medicine, intensive care
Authors
Ashley Reed
Emergency Depatment, Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Prittlewell Chase, Westcliff on Sea, Essex, SS0 0RY, United Kingdom
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Correspondence to:
Ashley Reed, Emergency Department, Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Prittlewell Chase, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, SS0 0RY, United Kingdom ashleyreed27@hotmail.com
Publication history:
Received 16 Jan 2019
Revised 17 Feb 2019
Accepted 03 Mar 2019
Published online 03 Apr 2019
Published in print 29 May 2019
Reed A, . Refeeding syndrome after small bowel obstruction - a case report. https://www.ejmcr.com/?mno=26576 [Access: April 24, 2024]. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1547660710
Reed A, . Refeeding syndrome after small bowel obstruction - a case report. EJMCR. (2019), [cited April 24, 2024]; 3(2): 78-82. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1547660710
Reed, Ashley, and . 2019. Refeeding syndrome after small bowel obstruction - a case report. European Journal of Medical Case Reports, 3 (2), 78-82. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1547660710
Reed, Ashley, and . "Refeeding syndrome after small bowel obstruction - a case report." European Journal of Medical Case Reports 3 (2019), 78-82. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1547660710
Reed, Ashley, and . "Refeeding syndrome after small bowel obstruction - a case report." European Journal of Medical Case Reports 3.2 (2019), 78-82. Print. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1547660710
Reed, A. & (2019) Refeeding syndrome after small bowel obstruction - a case report. European Journal of Medical Case Reports, 3 (2), 78-82. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1547660710