Complications of renutrition

Several deaths were reported when total parenteral nutrition came into use in the early seventies. These deaths resulted from overzealous total parent eral nutrition leading to what was termed the refeeding syndrome, Actually, this syndrome had been reported Sears earlier, especially at the end of th e second world war, The refeeding syndrome includes hypophosphatemia, water and electrolyte overload, hypertonic states, vitamin deficiencies and neur ological disorders. Malnourished patients on enteral and/or parenteral nutr ition are exposed to specific complications linked to artificial nutrition. Bronchial inhalation is the main complication of enteral nutrition, while the venous access Is the source of most of the complications related to par enteral nutrition. Thrombophlebitis and infection of the central venous lin es can be avoided by proper preventive measures. While refeeding syndrome and other metabolic complications is uncommon in m alnourished patients on enteral or parenteral nutrition, the potential grav ity of these complications implies careful preventive measures. A specific guideline for the treatment of phyophosphatemia is presented.