Features of refeeding syndrome in pediatric intensive care unit patients (literature review)

Introduction. Restoration of nutrition in patients with nutritional deficiency hospitalized in intensive care units is a complex process due to the high risk of the development of refeeding syndrome. Refeeding syndrome is insufficiently studied in children not only with regard to pathogenesis and intensive care, but also with regard to its influence on the further development of the child. Materials and methods. A non-systematic review of literature sources was performed. Domestic publications were searched in the database on the eLibrary website, foreign publications were searched in PubMed, Google Scholar, Cophrane Library, Cyberleninka, ResearchGate databases in the period 2017–2024. 73 full-text publications describing risk factors, peculiarities of mechanisms of refeeding syndrome development in children, clinical picture and methods of intensive therapy were analyzed. Results. The review analyzed and systematized the stratified risk factors, peculiarities of pathogenesis and clinical picture of refeeding syndrome in children depending on developing metabolic disorders. The connection of refeeding syndrome on the progression of nutritional deficiency is shown. The main methods of intensive therapy, including nutritional support for patients with high-risk and developed refeeding syndrome are determined. Conclusion. Currently, there is no unambiguous definition and diagnostic criteria for refeeding syndrome in children. Timely intensive therapy in cases of refeeding syndrome development allows to correct nutritional deficiency, to increase the survival rate of patients, can influence further growth and development of the child.