CHU de Nantes pilots remote monitoring for infants after heart surgery

The CHU de Nantes has launched the OSCAR research project to pilot a remote monitoring system for infants recovering from surgery for congenital heart malformations. This initiative aims to track vital signs such as weight, heart rate, and oxygen saturation during the six months following the child's return home.

By using a dedicated application, parents can report health indicators and behavioral changes. The goal is to detect early warning signs of complications, such as surgical site infections or fluid accumulation, allowing medical teams to intervene promptly. Additionally, the project seeks to evaluate whether this continuous connection between families and the hospital can improve the mental health of parents, who often face high stress or potential post-traumatic stress following such surgeries.

Approximately 7,400 newborns in France are affected by congenital heart malformations annually. Following an initial study at the CHU de Nantes, the project intends to expand to a larger scale involving multiple hospital centers across France.