Inpatient Management

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Admission Criteria - Gates of Care

  • Medical Instability:
    • Weight < 75% IBW or rapid, persistent loss.
    • Vitals: HR < 40 bpm, BP < 80/60 mmHg, Temp < 35.5°C.
    • Labs: K+ < 3 mmol/L, PO4 < 0.65 mmol/L (critical for refeeding), ECG changes.
  • Psychiatric Instability:
    • Acute suicidal risk (intent/plan).
    • Severe comorbid conditions (e.g., psychosis, major depression).
  • Treatment Context:
    • Failure of less intensive treatment levels.
    • Need for structured refeeding & medical monitoring.

Doctor examines patient in eating disorder unit

⭐ Hypophosphatemia is a hallmark of refeeding syndrome, a critical risk during initial inpatient nutritional rehabilitation.

Initial Assessment - Patient Profiling

  • History:
    • Psychiatric: Co-morbidities (depression, anxiety), suicide risk.
    • Medical/Dietary: Weight hx, amenorrhea, intake patterns, purging (frequency, methods).
    • Social: Support system, stressors, family dynamics.
  • Examination:
    • MSE: Body image distortion, insight, mood, suicidality.
    • Physical: BMI, vitals (bradycardia, hypotension, hypothermia), signs of malnutrition (lanugo, hair loss), purging (Russell's sign, dental erosion).
  • Key Risks: Suicidality, medical instability, refeeding syndrome (e.g., BMI <16 kg/m², rapid weight loss).
  • Baseline Investigations: CBC, electrolytes (K, PO4, Mg), LFTs, RFTs, glucose, ECG.

⭐ SCOFF Questionnaire (Sick, Control, One stone, Fat, Food): Score ≥2 indicates a likely case of Anorexia Nervosa or Bulimia Nervosa. Useful for quick screening.

Nutritional Rehab - Refuel & Rebuild

  • Goal: Restore weight, normalize eating, correct deficiencies.
  • Initial Calories: Start low: 1200-1800 kcal/day (or 30-40 kcal/kg/day).
  • Increase: Gradually by 300-400 kcal every 3-4 days, based on tolerance.
  • Weight Gain Target (Inpatient): 1-1.5 kg/week. (Outpatient: 0.5-1 kg/week).
  • ⚠️ Refeeding Syndrome: High risk in severely malnourished. Key sign: hypophosphatemia (e.g., serum P $<0.65$ mmol/L).
    • Monitor: Serum Phosphate, Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg).
    • Thiamine: Prophylactic 100-300mg IV/IM daily before feeds & for 3-5 days.
    • Correct electrolyte imbalances pre-feed.

⭐ The primary biochemical hallmark of refeeding syndrome is hypophosphatemia, often seen within the first 72 hours.

Refeeding Syndrome Overview

Medical Complications - Code Red Alerts

  • Cardiovascular:
    • Bradycardia (HR <40 bpm)
    • Hypotension (SBP <80 mmHg)
    • QTc prolongation (>500ms)
    • Arrhythmias
  • Electrolyte Imbalance (⚠️ Refeeding Syndrome):
    • Hypokalemia <3.0 mmol/L
    • Hypophosphatemia <0.65 mmol/L
    • Hypomagnesemia <0.6 mmol/L
  • Hematological:
    • Severe neutropenia (<1.0 x 10⁹/L)
  • Other Critical Signs:
    • BMI <13 kg/m² or rapid weight loss (>1kg/wk for 2 wks)
    • Hypothermia (<35°C)
    • Seizures, delirium
    • Persistent food/fluid refusal ECG: Normal QT, Prolonged QT, and Torsades de Pointes

⭐ Hypophosphatemia is a hallmark of refeeding syndrome and can precipitate cardiac failure and arrhythmias.

Psycho-Social Support & Discharge - Mind Matters Most

  • Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Approach: Psychiatrist, psychologist, dietitian, social worker, occupational therapist.
  • Therapies:
    • Individual: CBT-ED, IPT, psychodynamic therapy.
    • Family: Essential, especially for adolescents (e.g., Maudsley Method/FBT).
    • Group therapy: Peer support, psychoeducation.
  • Psychoeducation: For patient and family about illness, nutrition, relapse prevention.
  • Discharge Planning:
    • Gradual transition: Day-care, halfway homes.
    • Relapse prevention plan: Identify triggers, coping strategies.
    • Regular follow-up: Monitor weight, mental state, adherence.
    • Support groups: e.g., EDA (Eating Disorders Anonymous). Eating Disorder Inpatient Treatment Team Roles

⭐ Family-Based Therapy (FBT), particularly the Maudsley approach, has the strongest evidence base for adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa, often leading to better outcomes than individual therapy alone during inpatient and post-discharge phases.

  • 📌 MDT CARE: Motivation, Diet, Therapy, Coping, Aftercare, Relapse prevention, Education.

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • Admit for severe malnutrition (BMI < 15), physiological instability (HR < 40, Temp < 35°C, electrolyte imbalance), or suicidality.
  • Critical risk: Refeeding syndrome. Monitor electrolytes (K, PO4, Mg); refeed slowly.
  • Goals: medical stabilization, nutritional rehabilitation via structured, supervised meals.
  • Target weight gain: 0.5-1 kg/week once stable.
  • Multidisciplinary team (medical, psychiatric, dietitian) is crucial.
  • Manage co-morbidities and initiate psychotherapy (e.g., CBT-E).

Practice Questions: Inpatient Management

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Flashcards: Inpatient Management

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Bulimia nervosa with comorbid mood disorders is usally treated with _____

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