Postoperative hospital stays and complications vary widely after digestive surgery. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols have shortened stays and accelerated recovery after elective procedures, but they remain challenging in emergency surgery and among frail or elderly patients. While theoretical discharge after colorectal surgery is possible between postoperative days 2 and 7, average stays in practice are 12-14 days. Bariatric surgery similarly targets discharge on days 2-3, yet typical stays are 8-10 days. Patients successfully managed under ERAS may face higher readmission risk, often due to worsening comorbidities or serious complications.
Prolonged hospitalization and readmissions impact patient safety, comfort, and healthcare costs. Daily hospital costs in surgical units range from €350 to €400. Post-acute care facilities can reduce readmissions but often have long waiting periods. To minimize readmission risk, many surgeons prefer in-hospital postoperative monitoring, limiting early discharge.
Recent studies show that connected devices and teleconsultation can provide safe and effective postoperative follow-up. Teleconsultation follow-up is feasible for most patients, with satisfaction rates comparable to in-person visits. Remote monitoring of stoma care has been associated with reduced readmissions. Home-based monitoring using connected vital sign devices in high-risk patients reduces readmissions and emergency visits. In colorectal and bariatric surgery, daily remote monitoring after early discharge (24-48 hours) did not increase morbidity or readmission, suggesting that telemonitoring can safely enable earlier discharge while maintaining patient safety. Continuous monitoring is particularly important for high-risk patients due to rapid deterioration from potential complications.
EPOCA is a telemonitoring and telecoordination platform providing medical, paramedical, and social follow-up at home. It combines connected devices, a digital platform for data analysis, and a dedicated medical and paramedical team. Services include teleconsultations, home paramedical care, support for families or care facilities, and 24/7 emergency management.
EPOCA reassures patients and caregivers, supports primary care and home care teams, and integrates hospital and emergency services. It addresses challenges posed by aging populations, chronic disease prevalence, and increasingly complex patients. By enabling earlier discharge without increasing readmissions, EPOCA offers a holistic solution bridging hospital and home care. It has already demonstrated success in preventing hospitalizations in high-risk elderly patients and is authorized for telemonitoring of chronic conditions including diabetes, respiratory, renal, and cardiac insufficiency.
This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of implementing EPOCA over two years in the CHU Nantes digestive surgery unit. It will target patients undergoing elective or urgent colorectal or bariatric surgery who are at risk of prolonged hospitalization or readmission. High-risk scenarios include anticipated early discharge within 24 hours and patients identified as having elevated readmission risk according to predefined criteria
