Monitoring of infants discharged home with medical devices

Preterm infants and term infants with complex medical conditions are often discharged home with technological support. There is a scarcity of evidence-based guidelines for post-discharge management of these infants at high risk. Common diagnoses necessitating the need for respiratory support and/or monitoring devices include apnea of prematurity and bronchopulmonary dysplasia for preterm infants, and upper airway anomalies, central nervous system disorders, and neuromuscular disorders for term infants. Some infants who are unable to receive complete oral feeds for various reasons are sometimes discharged home with nasogastric or gastrostomy tube feeds. For safe patient care at home and reduction of emergency department visits, there should be proper transition of care from hospital to primary care provider, and appropriate instruction of caregivers for care of the infant including teaching about medications, feeding, and management of medical devices. Primary care providers should be aware of these common supportive devices and their complications to provide timely intervention if needed.