Nutrition: refeeding syndrome: practice question

A General Surgery question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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General Surgery · Nutrition: refeeding syndrome

Sample item

A severely malnourished patient is started on high-calorie nutrition and then develops weakness, arrhythmia, and a sharp fall in serum phosphate. What syndrome is most likely?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Refeeding syndrome

Refeeding causes an insulin-driven intracellular shift of phosphate, potassium, and magnesium in malnourished patients. Hypophosphatemia can cause arrhythmias, respiratory failure, and neurologic dysfunction, so feeding must be introduced cautiously with monitoring.

Option by option

  • A. Refeeding syndrome (correct)

    Correct. Rapid phosphate fall after nutritional reintroduction is the hallmark.

  • B. Tumor lysis syndrome

    Tumor lysis follows treatment of high-burden malignancy and typically causes hyperphosphatemia and hyperkalemia.

  • C. Adrenal crisis

    Adrenal crisis causes hypotension, hyponatremia, and hyperkalemia in the appropriate endocrine context.

  • D. Serotonin syndrome

    Serotonin syndrome causes neuromuscular hyperactivity and autonomic instability after serotonergic exposure.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is A, Refeeding syndrome. Refeeding causes an insulin-driven intracellular shift of phosphate, potassium, and magnesium in malnourished patients.

Why is "Tumor lysis syndrome" not the answer?

Tumor lysis follows treatment of high-burden malignancy and typically causes hyperphosphatemia and hyperkalemia.

Why is "Adrenal crisis" not the answer?

Adrenal crisis causes hypotension, hyponatremia, and hyperkalemia in the appropriate endocrine context.

Why is "Serotonin syndrome" not the answer?

Serotonin syndrome causes neuromuscular hyperactivity and autonomic instability after serotonergic exposure.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nutrition: refeeding syndrome in General Surgery. Hypophosphatemia can cause arrhythmias, respiratory failure, and neurologic dysfunction, so feeding must be introduced cautiously with monitoring.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Nutrition: refeeding syndrome?

Learn classic signs and eponyms alongside what they diagnose. Then use the flashcards and the other General Surgery questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.