Guidelines

The Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee prepares guidelines for the renal community in the UK. The committee comprises the leaders of each of the fourteen modules, chaired by Dr Robert Mactier, robert.mactier2@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

The guidelines provide a template for the management of patients with kidney disease in the UK and define the data collected by the Renal Registry.

About the fourth and fifth edition of the guidelines

In commissioning the fourth and fifth edition the Clinical Affairs Board considered the term Clinical Practice Guidelines more appropriate than the previous term 'Standards'.

Module Date Review due
Chronic kidney disease - Charlie Tomson & Maarten Taal 10/4/07 2009
Complications (cardiovascular disease, bone disease, anaemia, nutrition) - Mike Cassidy, Donald Richardson & Colin Jones 11/12/07 2009
Blood-borne viruses - Colin Geddes, Elizabeth Lindley & Neill Duncan 14/7/09 2011

Haemodialysis - Robert Mactier, Nic Hoenich & Cormac Breen

 1/12/09 2012
Peritoneal dialysis - Simon Davies 15/5/07 2009
Peritoneal access - Martin Wilkie, Sarah Jenkins & Badi Shrestha 22/9/09 2011
Planning, initiation & withdrawal of RRT - Ken Farrington & Graham Warwick 17/9/09 2011
Assessment for transplantation - Chris Dudley & Paul Harden 8/4/08
 2010
Acute Renal Failure (Acute Kidney Injury) - Paul Stevens, Andrew Davenport, Andrew Lewington & Suren Kanagasundaram 8/4/08 2010
Nutrition in CKD (FIRST DRAFT) - Dr Mark Wright and Dr Colin Jones 2/12/09  

The fourth edition was prepared as five modules and completed in 2009. Each of the modules was drafted by a small group of individuals selected on the basis of their expertise and freedom from potential bias. The modules covered a wider range of topics than the previous 'Standards' document with the addition of a section on Chronic Kidney Disease and extended coverage of the medical aspects of kidney transplantation, particularly recipient work-up. Previous guidelines can be seen here

The number of guideline modules was expanded to fourteen for the fifth edition commencing in 2009. Recommendations in these modules will be graded using the modified GRADE system. Blood borne virus, peritoneal access and planning, initiation and withdrawal of RRT modules have been added. The HD module has been updated. 'Complications' will be divided into several freestanding modules. Module numbering (1, 2, 3a etc) was dropped. You can read plans for future modules.

Each module comprises a series of guideline statements with accompanying text to explain how these are derived. The supporting evidence is referenced and audit measures defined. As the modules are completed they are internally reviewed by the Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee before being made available for broader consultation via the Renal Association website. Potential stakeholder organisations are informed as the various modules become available and specifically invited to comment. Comments on the first and final drafts are fed back directly to module leads via email, comment at the foot of guideline pages or Discussion Forums.

Once feedback on the final draft has been received, the edited final version of each module is locked. Whenever significant changes are made, a copy of the previous version is stored and made available as a downloadable pdf file at the foot of the relevant guideline page.

Because of this constant updating process no printed copies are distributed, but guidelines should print satisfactorily from the web version, and pdf versions can be downloaded.

The current UK guidelines can be compared with those produced by other organisations across the world on the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) website www.kdigo.org.

Downloads

  1. CPG Committee Minutes April 2009
    .pdf file (82.35 KB)
    Download
  2. CPG Committee Minutes 15th May 2008
    .doc file (46.00 KB)
    Download
  3. Minutes from Brighton meeting May 2007 (amended July)
    .pdf file (76.59 KB)
    Download