Patients recovering from cancer surgery could be monitored at home by their T-shirts, a study suggests. Researchers in Italy developed a device, worn for three hours a day for around two weeks, with sensors that monitor vital signs including respiratory and heart rate and body temperature. A trial involving 70 patients found those who left hospital early and used the device felt reassured while recovering at home.
Study leader Professor Antonio Pastore, who developed the T-shirt with company LET’s Webearable Solutions, said the garment allowed for more thorough monitoring than typical wearable devices. The expert in urology at Sapienza University of Rome added: “The T-shirt we gave to patients differs from smartwatches and other wearables.
“It can reveal more data, including electrolytes, which we need to continue to monitor after bladder surgery as they can reveal mineral imbalances that lead to serious complications.
“Our patients found the T-shirt easy to use and over 90% reported it allowed them to feel safe and cared for while recuperating at home.”
The trial involved patients who had undergone urological surgery for cancer. Some were discharged as normal three to five days after surgery.
Those given T-shirts were discharged 24 to 36 hours earlier and asked to wear the clothing for certain periods during the day.
Monitoring of vital signs including blood pressure, pulse rate and blood sugar levels detected the onset of heart problems in five patients, allowing for early diagnosis and treatment.
Eight patients in the control group returned to hospital before their scheduled follow-up time, compared with just two in the monitoring group.
Prof Pastore added: “In Italy, where standard discharge time after this type of robotic-assisted urological surgery can be at least 72 hours, being able to allow patients home sooner improves their quality of life as they feel more comfortable in their own environment, and it means we can free up hospital beds too.”
The findings will be presented this weekend at the European Association of Urology Congress in Madrid.
Professor Maarten Albersen, a urologist at UZ Leuven in Belgium and chair of the conference’s scientific congress office Chair, said the technology appeared “promising”.
He added: “The trial is early stage, but the insights are very interesting, particularly since patients strongly accepted the wearable and it was able to detect complications in real-time and reduce unnecessary re-hospitalisations.
“Given the small size and preliminary nature of the trial, before we can see this sort of wearable in clinical practice more data is needed on its ability to support earlier discharge from hospital, and its true impact on outcomes and cost-effectiveness.”
