Early detection of general surgery complications using remote patient monitoring: a life saved

A rare postoperative complication was detected in a 65-year-old male after abnormalities were identified through a newly implemented Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) program at Stony Brook University Hospital (SBUH). After the RPM alerted the patient’s attending surgeon of abnormal vital signs, the patient was urged to visit the SBUH’s Emergency Department, where the patient presented severely ill, tachycardic, with dry mucous membranes as well as right lower quadrant pain without rebound 12 days postinterval laparoscopic appendectomy. Laboratory results demonstrated high alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphate, and elevated white blood cell count. Upon imaging the patient was found to have a large ill-defined hypodense multilobulated lesion within the right lobe of the liver supporting a diagnosis of pyogenic liver abscess. The patient was admitted to the hospital and given IV broad spectrum antibiotics, fluids, and pain relief. The patient then underwent ultrasound-guided hepatic abscess drain placement, showing significant improvements within the following days of hospitalization. By enabling the use of RPM in general surgery, telemedicine may enhance the care of patients at risk for surgical complications and save lives.