title: Refeeding syndrome in Southeastern Taiwan: our experience with 11 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present our experience with refeeding syndrome in southeastern Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective study during a 2-year period at the Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taitung Branch. We enrolled patients with very little or no nutrition intake for more than 10 d, a high risk group of refeeding syndrome, including those suffering from alcohol abuse, cancerous cachexia, chronic malnutrition, and prolonged starvation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 11 patients (7 males, 4 females) with nasogastric feeding were included as having refeeding syndrome. Most of them had the symptoms of diarrhea, lethargy, and leg edema. The initial nutritional supplement was found to be relatively high in calories (1355.1 ± 296.2 kcal/d), high in protein (47.3 ± 10.4 gm/d), low in vitamin B1 (2.0 ± 0.5 mg/d), low in potassium (1260.4 ± 297.7 mg/d), and low in phosphorus (660.1 ± 151.8 mg/d). Furthermore, hypophosphatemia (2.4 ± 0.9 mg/dL) was noted during follow-up. Based on the suggestions of a dietician and a gastroenterologist, the clinical disorders of diarrhea, malaise and leg edema were significantly improved. The level of phosphate was also increased (3.3 ± 0.6 mg/dL).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Refeeding syndrome is an overlooked and risky disorder that has some potentially fatal complications. Nasogastric feeding in nursing homes is an important risk factor for patients and deserves greater attention based on the initial results of this study.
authors.affiliation: Li-Ju Chen, Department of Nutrition, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taitung 91202, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Li-Ju
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Li-Ju Chen, Department of Nutrition, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taitung 91202, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Huan-Lin
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Li-Ju Chen, Department of Nutrition, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taitung 91202, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Jong
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bair
authors.affiliation: Li-Ju Chen, Department of Nutrition, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taitung 91202, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Hsien
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Li-Ju Chen, Department of Nutrition, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taitung 91202, Taiwan.
authors.forename: I-Tsung
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Li-Ju Chen, Department of Nutrition, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taitung 91202, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yuan-Kai
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Li-Ju Chen, Department of Nutrition, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taitung 91202, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Cheng-Hsin
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055677:Refeeding Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Cachexia; Hypophosphatemia; Nutrition status; Refeeding syndrome; Risk assessment