Long-term medical nutrition therapy improves the outcome of an abdominal tuberculosis patient with intestinal failure, severe malnutrition, and high-risk refeeding syndrome: A case report

Background: Abdominal tuberculosis (TB) complicated with enterocutaneous fistula (ECF) carries a high mortality rate of up to 20 %, which further increases in the presence of malnutrition. This case report discusses a long-term medical nutrition therapy (MNT) approach in managing a complex case of abdominal TB with intestinal failure in a resource-limited setting. Case report: A 19-year-old female presented with a severe case of abdominal TB complicated by multiple high-output ECFs, severe malnutrition, and high-risk refeeding syndrome. Long-term MNT was tailored according to the patient’s physiological changes to meet nutritional requirements and support recovery, alongside multiple surgical interventions and hospital admissions. Conclusion: We highlighted the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, including the underemphasized role of long-term MNT, in optimizing clinical outcomes of complicated abdominal TB, particularly within developing countries.