Remote Postoperative Home Monitoring using tablet PC technology
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An observational study to assess the feasibility of remote monitoring of patients in the early postoperative period after elective resectional surgery for colorectal cancer. – The ‘Independent Patient Assessment Tool (IPAT)’
IRAS ID
133305
Contact name
Omar Faiz
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Northwest London Hospitals NHS Trust
Research summary
Patients with chronic diseases are monitored at home with remote monitoring technology at present. However postoperative patients have not been followed up in this manner. In colorectal surgery, patients may get postoperative complications such as anastomotic leaks, chest and urine infections and dehydration amongst others, in the first 2-4 weeks after discharge. They often only present to the health services when the complication has gone on for a while and the patient has clinically deteriorated.
It would be best to detect a complication as early as possible in its course and manage it effectively. The patient's physiological measurements like heartrate, temperature and respiratory rate can indicate this initial deterioration.
A recent epidemiological study noted that readmission rates after colectomies have increased during the past 20 years with the mean length of postoperative stay declining. This raises the issue of safely discharging patients in a timely fashion and being able to detect and treat any postoperative complications promptly.
As such, we aim to assess the feasibility of using a handheld tablet device with monitoring peripherals such as blood pressure cuffs and pulse oximetry, to monitor patients in their home setting after colorectal surgery. We also wish to trial the the utility of photographic and video conferencing capability between the patient and the clinician in this trial. Currently, our unit has a telephonic service run by colorectal nurse specialists. We believe that having remote postoperative monitoring will act as an adjunct in this respect and allows the clinician to have an objective assessment on top of the patient's subjective symptoms. Furthermore, early subclinical deterioration in the patient can also be detected and the patient can be contacted to further assess them.
In summary, this is a pilot feasibility study which aim to assess the utility of remote postoperative monitoring in colorectal surgical patients.
REC name
London - South East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/0858
Date of REC Opinion
11 Jul 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion