Breteler MJM, KleinJan E, Numan L, et al. - Researchers examined the efficacy of currently available wireless sensors for detecting adverse events in high-risk surgical patients. Performing a descriptive analysis of all vital signs trend data acquired during an observational comparison study of wearable sensors for vital signs monitoring in high-risk surgical patients throughout the initial days of recovery at a surgical step-down unit and subsequent traumatology or surgical oncology ward, they obtained vital sign trend patterns of patients that developed adverse events and compared these with vital sign recordings of patients without occurrence of adverse events. They used two wearable patch sensors (SensiumVitals and HealthPatch), a bed-based mattress sensor (EarlySense) and a patient-worn monitor (Masimo Radius-7). Eleven of the 31 included patients developed 20 adverse events. In all recordings, a sudden increase in HR pointed to the onset of atrial fibrillation (AF), and other postoperative complications developed in all patients with new-onset AF after esophagectomy. Outcomes demonstrate the capability of current systems for remote wireless patient monitoring on the ward for detecting abnormalities in vital sign patterns in patients who develop adverse events. Patient safety may improve with remote patient monitoring as this may generate early warnings for deterioration to nursing staff.