BAPEN Principles of Good Nutritional Practice – Decision Trees

As part of our on-going commitment to improve levels of care for those at risk of malnutrition in the UK we have introduced a new Decision Tree resource. The Decision Trees have been produced by the members of BAPEN Education and Training committee and the Core Groups and associate organisations: BAPEN Medical, BPNG, BSPGHAN, NNNG, PENG, and PINNT and offer a pragmatic and effective tool to assist in the care of those at risk of malnutrition and its consequences.

Malnutrition remains all too common in a wide range of care settings including hospitals and the community, and as such has become the responsibility of a wide range of health care professionals in primary and secondary care. While many guidelines exist, the sources are varied, and often too thorough and in-depth for immediate easy use in the care setting. The BAPEN Principles of Good Nutritional Practice has been devised to draw together existing guidelines and evidence base, together with best practice where no research is possible, to produce Decision Trees to help guide all levels of health care professionals through the pathway of care of those with malnutrition.

All Decision Trees are freely available to download below:

Naso-gastric Tube Insertion

Naso Gastric (NG) Tube Insertion – Decision Tree

Content under revision.

Ethics clinically assisted nutrition

Ethics and clinically assisted nutrition or hydration approaching the end of life

This decision tree is superseded by the following documents on ethical decision-making in nutrition support:

Diagnosis buried bumper syndrome

Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Diagnosis of Buried Bumper Syndrome – Decision Tree

Download (PDF)
Management buried bumper syndrome

Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Management of Buried Bumper Syndrome – Decision Tree

Download (PDF)
Perioperative Nutrition

Perioperative Nutrition – Decision Tree

Download (PDF)

Under review July 2024.

Abnormal liver function

Managing abnormal liver function tests among those receiving Home Parenteral Nutrition exclusion of non-nutritional causes – Decision Tree

Download (PDF)
Management of enteral feeding related diarrhoea

Management of enteral feeding related diarrhoea – Decision Tree

Download (PDF)
Dietary management hyperkalaemia

Dietary management of hyperkalaemia in haemodialysis patients – Decision Tree

This decision tree has been retired.

Guidance can be found here and in the PENG Pocket Guide.

Management Haemodialysis

Management of malnutrition in patients receiving haemodialysis – Decision Tree

Download (PDF)

Under review July 2024.