Smart T-Shirt supports early discharge after urological cancer surgery

Telemedicine has increasingly become a part of routine clinical practice, enabling patients to stay connected with healthcare teams outside of the hospital. In this study, the research team examined whether wearable monitoring could reduce the length of hospital stay following robotic-assisted surgery for urological cancers. 

Patients in the study wore the sensor-equipped t-shirt for around two weeks during three-hour intervals each day. The garment tracked various physiological parameters, including: 

• ECG and heart rate 

• Respiratory rate 

• Body temperature 

• Blood pressure and oxygen saturation 

• Blood glucose levels and electrolytes 

The collected data were transmitted to a mobile app and web-based software. 

In total, 70 patients were included in the pilot study. Those assigned to the wearable group were discharged between 24 and 36 hours earlier than patients in the control group, who stayed the usual 2 to 4 days. 

Additional results included: 

• Only 2 patients (6 percent) in the wearable group returned to the hospital before their scheduled follow-up, compared to 8 patients (26 percent) in the control group. 

• Early signs of cardiac conditions were detected in 5 patients via remote monitoring, enabling timely intervention. 

• Patient satisfaction with the T-shirt was high, with 90 percent reporting a positive experience. 

Antonio Pastore explained: “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.” 

According to the researchers, 87 percent of patients found the system effective and encouraging. Only around 10 percent struggled with the telemedicine instructions. 

“Our patients found the t-shirt easy to use and over 90 percent reported it allowed them to feel safe and cared for while recuperating at home,” said Antonio Pastore. “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.” 

Prof. Maarten Albersen, Urologist at UZ Leuven and Chair of the EAU Scientific Congress Office, commented: “This sensory t-shirt appears to be a promising remote monitoring technology for helping patients to recover well at home after robotic-assisted urological surgery. 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 rehospitalizations.” 

MEDICA-tradefair.com; Source: European Association of Urology