Hypoglycemia indicative of inappropriate renutrition syndrome. About a case observed in the intensive care unit of Jason Sendwe Hospital in Lubumbashi, DR Congo

Inappropriate renutrition syndrome (IRS) is a life-threatening metabolic complication to which patients in intensive care are particularly exposed. The lack of a universally adopted definition and its clinical polymorphism make it an underdiagnosed pathology. The clinical case presented is that of a patient in his twenties who was operated on for an intestinal perforation and reoperated for a high-flow enteral fistula a few days later. 24 hours after reintroduction of the diet, he presented with palpitations, profuse sweating, tachycardia and tachypnea. The blood glucose measured in emergency (20 mg/dl) could not be raised until the onset of generalized tonic-clonic convulsions followed a few minutes later by cardiorespiratory arrest. The post-mortem laboratory results were found to be disturbed and allowed the diagnosis of IRS. For daily practice, this clinical case recognizes the importance of anticipating and preventing IRS, particularly in intensive care units. Keywords: hypoglycemia, renutrition syndrome, resuscitation, Lubumbashi, case study.