MARSIPAN and the deadly triad: management of malnourished patients

A 44-year-old gentleman was admitted with a deliberate overdose of olanzapine, paracetamol and bisoprolol. On admission, he was hypothermic, bradycardic and hypotensive and his body mass index was 12 kg/m(2). Problems identified on admission included polypharmacy overdose, risk of refeeding syndrome and sepsis. Despite careful reintroduction of feeding and generous electrolyte replacement, he developed persistent hypophosphataemia, hypokalaemia and a marked transaminitis. Several days later, he was noted to be hypothermic and hypoglycaemic. No increase in white cell count or C reactive protein was noted and his clinical appearance was otherwise unremarkable. Nevertheless, given these signs he was started on broad spectrum antibiotics for possible sepsis, which was subsequently confirmed on chest radiograph in addition to a further finding of likely aspergilloma on a later chest CT. His metabolic function stabilised after 3 weeks of carefully titrated nutrition and the sepsis responded to antibiotics and antifungal therapy.