THE RESULTS of a pilot study presented at the European Association of Urology (EAU) Congress 2025 in Madrid, has demonstrated that a sensor-equipped t-shirt can enable earlier hospital discharge and improved recovery for patients undergoing robotic-assisted urological cancer surgery, with potential benefits for patient comfort and hospital resource management.
The study involved 70 patients divided into a control group and a ‘wearable’ group. The wearable group was discharged 24-36 hours earlier than the control group, wearing a lightweight t-shirt designed in collaboration with LET’s Webearable Solutions. This garment monitored vital signs including ECG, respiratory rate, heart rate, and body temperature, transmitting data to a smartphone app and web-based software.
Patients in the wearable group wore the t-shirt for three 3-hour periods daily over approximately two weeks. The device proved more comprehensive than typical wearables, monitoring electrolytes crucial for detecting post-bladder surgery complications. Only 6% of patients in the wearable group required unscheduled hospital visits, compared to 26% in the control group. The t-shirt also detected early signs of cardiac issues in five patients. Patient satisfaction was high, with 90% reporting feeling safe and well-cared for at home, and 87% finding the telemedicine instructions effective.
While these results are promising, and show potential for improving patient care and hospital efficiency, larger studies are needed to confirm the t-shirt’s efficacy and cost-effectiveness before widespread clinical adoption. The researchers are currently conducting a cost-effectiveness analysis of the technology.
Reference
Pastore AL et al. Initial report on remote telemonitoring in patients undergoing robot-assisted oncological surgery: a multicentric clinical trial. EAU Annual Congress, 21-24 March, 2025.
