Sensing Swelling: Towards Remote Monitoring of Craniectomy Patients

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Biomedical Engineering
• Digital Health

Background:

• Decompressive craniectomy (DC) relieves brain swelling but requires a recovery period before cranioplasty.
• The interval between DC and cranioplasty presents a risk for complications, including infection, seizures, and death.
• Current remote monitoring capabilities for patients in this critical transition phase are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a platform for remote patient monitoring to optimize pre-operative reviews.
• To reduce complication rates associated with the interval between decompressive craniectomy and cranioplasty.
• To improve neurorehabilitation outcomes through continuous patient data collection.

Main Methods:

• Development of a platform technology featuring a 'smart' device integrated into a skullcap.
• The device measures key physiological parameters, including changes indicative of brain swelling.
• Implementation of a clinician portal for remote viewing and analysis of patient physiological data.

Main Results:

• The developed platform enables continuous, remote monitoring of patients post-decompressive craniectomy.
• Physiological data, such as brain swelling indicators, can be tracked during the pre-cranioplasty recovery phase.
• The system facilitates timely clinical assessment and intervention, potentially mitigating risks.

Conclusions:

• Remote patient monitoring using smart device technology can significantly enhance care during the decompressive craniectomy to cranioplasty interval.
• Utilizing patient-generated data can lead to improved neurorehabilitation outcomes.
• This technology offers a novel approach to managing patients transitioning between major neurosurgical procedures.