Integrating telehealth as a strategy for patient management after discharge for cardiac surgery: results of a pilot study.

Advances in telecommunication technologies have improved access and availability of telehealth for use in healthcare. In cardiac care, telehealth has predominantly been used to manage patients with heart failure. The use of telehealth as a strategy for patient management after discharge for cardiac surgery can be beneficial in monitoring postoperative status and in the early detection of complications. This article provides an overview of the use of telehealth and telemanagement in cardiac patients and discusses the results of a pilot study as an example of an application of the use of telehealth for elderly cardiac surgery patients at high risk of postoperative complications.