Home continuous wireless temperature monitoring using TempTraq® patch in children discharged after surgery for perforated appendicitis: A prospective observational study.

The current clinical standard-of-care method for monitoring a patient's body temperature is to periodically take a measurement using a variety of different techniques (e.g. liquid in glass thermometer, electric resistance thermometer, radiation thermometry, etc.). In an outpatient setting, the frequency of temperature measurements by the parents/guardians can be infrequent; this results in a delay in fever detection and subsequent treatment adversely affecting patient outcomes. Timely administration of antibiotics is associated with improved outcomes; thus, early recognition of fever is paramount. Furthermore, in young children the repeat measurements my cause distress, especially when conducted at night time. Therefore, continuous real time body temperature measurement enables clinicians to detect a fever earlier and potentially improve patient outcomes. TempTraq® is medical device that consists of a soft, comfortable, disposable patch that continuously measures axillary temperature and wirelessly transmits real time data. We have conducted a study demonstrating that the device provides reliable readings compared to standard thermometers in hospitalised children. The primary aim of this second study is to evaluate the utility of continuous temperature monitoring in children at home using TempTraq. We will perform a prospective observational study of 100 paediatric patients (1-17 years of age) treated at Monash Children’s Hospital and discharge home after surgery for perforated appendicitis. Fifty patients will wear a TempTraq patch for 3-5 days. We aim to clarify if the TempTraq patch will be able to detect early febrile episodes that might lead to prompt readmission/treatment and reduction of post-operative complications. A 1-10 rating scale survey will be completed by the parent/guardian and the child were applicable to assess the tolerability of the device.