Refeeding syndrome in oncological patients

Abstract

Undernutrition remains an important problem among oncological patients. Supportive nutrition, when conducted inappropriately, can have many significant side effects. Refeeding syndrome (RS) is a life-threatening condition resulting from oral or parenteral nutrition and characterized by electrolytes insufficiency, mainly phosphorus, followed by multiple clinical manifestations. Oncological patients are especially prone to develop of RS. Thus, the oncologist should be familiar with the risk factors, clinical symptoms, pathophysiology and treatment of this, potentially fatal, oncological emergency.

Onkol. Prak. Klin. 2011; 7, 1: 24–30