Remote vital signs data monitoring during home blood transfusion: A pilot study

Our study aimed to establish safer methods to manage home blood transfusion by using a remote vital signs data monitoring system. Home care is administered for patients with various medical disorders; however, home blood transfusion remains challenging owing to the risk of transfusion-related complications.

We set up a remote vital signs data monitoring system to improve the safety of home blood transfusions. Using an Internet-based vital signs data monitoring system, the heart rate, electrocardiography, respiration rate, and percutaneous oxygen saturation (SpO₂) were monitored and recorded during the entire home transfusion period.

Ten transfusions in three patients were monitored; two of the patients had an abnormality in a single vital sign (decreased SpO₂ decrease and increased respiratory rate); these were not transfusion-related complications. Vital sign anomalies also occur because of errors in using the measurement device and noise associated with body movements. The presence of abnormalities in at least two vital signs among SpO₂ decrease, tachycardia, and increased respiratory rate that persisted for >5 minutes was defined as a complicated vital sign abnormality (CVSA). There were no severe transfusion-related complications with CVSA in the present study.

This study indicates the feasibility and sustainability of real-time remote monitoring of vital signs for the safety of home transfusion. Although CVSA may function as an indicator of severe transfusion-related complications, these findings need to be confirmed with further studies.