Televisit with TytoHome™ device in medically complex child in long-term mechanical ventilation: a pilot study

Abstract

Abstract Background During the pandemic, the pneumology team at Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital highlighted that telemedicine was a valuable tool for remotely managing the medical needs of children with medical complexity (CMC). Following the telemedicine experience during the emergency phase, a telemedicine service was established, and new tools were tested to optimize televisits and the overall eHealth approach for patients. In this context, the TytoHome™ device was tested for performing objective examinations remotely. This pilot study, conducted at our hospital, explored the management of CMC patients on long-term mechanical ventilation via the telemedicine platform and the TytoHome™ device. Methods This study involved the treatment of 10 pediatric patients over one year using this approach. The patients were already receiving care at our hospital and were undergoing long-term mechanical ventilation (LTV) at home—4 on invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) and 6 on non-invasive ventilation (NIV). A database was developed to collect patient data, including personal details, vital parameters, objective examinations, audio quality, and patient satisfaction. A descriptive analysis was subsequently performed using the data collected during the earlier stages of the study. Results The utility of the TytoCare device for medically complex children was evaluated. The families were “satisfied” with the remote follow-up visits, and healthcare personnel rated the audio quality of the visits as “good.” Conclusions In conclusion, the remote management of these patients using the Tyto device offered several advantages. In our experience, Tyto proved to be a useful tool for the remote medical management of complex patients.