(Don't) Just Feed Them Already! Emergency Management of Starvation-related Illness

Anorexia nervosa has the highest fatality of all psychiatric diagnoses, partially due to the physiologic consequences of starvation. Nutritional rehabilitation of starved patients can also be deadly when complicated by refeeding syndrome and Wernicke's encephalopathy. This presentation will provide a patient case-based review of anorexia nervosa, starvation, and the potential perils of nutritional rehabilitation. With clinical pearls presented by a seasoned emergency medicine PA, who is also a registered dietitian, this presentation will paint a memorable picture of these three life-threatening, starvation-related emergencies, reinforcing prompt diagnosis and discussing a thoughtful, evidence-based approach to management. Patients with anorexia nervosa, refeeding syndrome, and Wernicke encephalopathy can be seen in virtually every setting, from pediatric clinics to the emergency room to the intensive care unit, making this presentation broadly applicable to many disciplines.