Accuracy of a Wrist-Worn Heart Rate Sensing Device during Elective Pediatric Surgical Procedures

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Pediatric Anesthesiology
• Wearable Technology

Background:

• Wearable photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors for heart rate (HR) monitoring are validated in adults, but not extensively in pediatric populations.
• Assessing HR accuracy in children during surgical procedures is critical for patient safety and effective monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the accuracy of a personal fitness tracker (PFT) for HR monitoring in pediatric patients undergoing surgery.
• To compare PFT-derived HR measurements with continuous electrocardiographic (cECG) and pulse oximetry (SpO2R) monitoring.

Main Methods:

• A wrist-worn PFT (Fitbit Charge HR) was used to monitor HR in 30 children during surgical procedures (laparoscopy or open surgery).
• HR data from PFTs were compared with simultaneous measurements from cECG and SpO2R.
• Analysis included preoperative and intraoperative periods, and subgroups based on age, weight, and HR range.

Main Results:

• PFT-derived HR showed excellent agreement with cECG (r=0.99) and SpO2R (r=0.99) monitoring.
• High accuracy was maintained across different age groups (<8 years), weight (<30 kg), and HR ranges (<70 bpm and >140 bpm).
• Accuracy remained consistent during different surgery types and across different phases of the surgical process.

Conclusions:

• Personal fitness trackers demonstrate high accuracy for HR monitoring in pediatric surgical patients.
• PFTs show potential as a reliable, non-invasive tool for HR assessment in this population.
• Further clinical validation is recommended for broader healthcare applications.