An update on WAAREN (Welsh Anaesthetic Audit Research and Engagement Network)

WAAREN is now 14 months on from its original formation and we have achieved a considerable amount in that time within Wales and UK wide. We have completed two major projects over the last twelve months both of which have involved around ten Welsh hospitals. Each site’s input was completely led by trainees keen to be involved in research who collected data in their own time. Overall we have had over fifty trainees involved; that’s fifty trainees who previously did not have that opportunity to be involved with national audit and research.

The first project, WAVE, was run over two weeks in April comparing ventilation parameters in patients undergoing major abdominal operations in light of the recent IMPROVE study. Over 90 patients were recruited across Wales. Hopefully you will get to see the results in the spring SAW meeting.

The second project, COMS, was a collaboration of all trainee networks across the UK; the first of its kind. It involved a survey looking at the provision of cardiac output monitoring in the UK. Data was collected in 67 trusts around the UK! Watch this space to here about the results.

And to the future…. Dr Dave Price was our first trainee to have his project selected to run our first national trainee led project. He beat off stiff competition with 6 potential projects submitted to the WAAREN committee. His project will start in March so keep a look out if you fancy getting involved. We also plan to run a second trainee project in around June and will be accepting proposals in April.

So plenty for everyone to get involved with. Visit our website (www.waaren.org) and follow us on twitter to keep updated. @WAARENgroup