Refeeding syndrome: the danger of feeding a starving man

Refeeding syndrome is a potentially fatal clinical condition characterized by severe electrolyte and fluid shifts associated with metabolic abnormalities in severely malnourished or starved patients undergoing oral, enteral or parenteral refeeding. We here present a case of a 50-year-old Indian male with a background of depression and alcoholic liver disease presented with alleged ingestion of a detergent. He subsequently developed an oesophageal stricture resulting in severe malnutrition. He developed refeeding syndrome following commencement of TPN associated with clear biochemical alteration. This was immediately identified and rectified. This case report highlights the prevalence of refeeding syndrome in a typical hospital setting that can easily be overlooked and stresses the importance of early recognition as this is a preventable disorder.