title: Refeeding in the ICU: an adult and pediatric problem.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the etiology and complications of the refeeding syndrome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complications of the refeeding syndrome can include electrolyte abnormalities, heart failure, respiratory failure, and death. This syndrome is of particular importance to critically ill patients, who can be moved from the starved state to the fed state rapidly via enteral or parenteral nutrition. There are a variety of risk factors for the development of the refeeding syndrome. All of these risk factors are tied together by starvation physiology. Case reports and case series continue to be reported, suggesting that this entity continues to exist in critically ill patients. Initiation of enteral nutrition to patients with starvation physiology should be gradual and careful monitoring of electrolytes and organ function is critical during the early stages of refeeding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The refeeding syndrome remains a significant issue in critically ill patients. Knowledge of the risk factors and the clinical signs of the refeeding syndrome is important to optimize outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgical Critical Care, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA. mbyrnes150@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Matthew C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Byrnes
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stangenes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003422:Critical Care; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D018529:Nutritional Support / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055677:Refeeding Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013217:Starvation / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy