Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery positioning on the use of telemedine in sleep-disordered breathing and mechanical ventilation / Posicionamiento de la Sociedad Española de Neumología y Cirugía Torácica en el uso del la telemedicina en los trastornos respiratorios del sueño y ventilación mecánica

The rapid introduction of new information and communication technologies into medical practice has prompted the Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery to publish a position paper on sleep-disordered breathing, especially in relation to positive pressure treatment. It should be pointed out that the scientific literature is to some extent controversial due to a paucity of large randomized multicenter studies with long-term follow-up. Moreover, the telematics devices and systems on the market vary widely. As a result, the recommendations are based primarily on a consensus of expert professionals. Another very important aspect addressed extensively in this document is the obvious lack of regulations on telemedicine and the operations of commercial companies. The most important recommendations included in this position paper are that telemedicine is primarily advocated in subjects with travel problems or who live far from the hospital, in patients with poor CPAP compliance, and in most cases treated with non-invasive mechanical ventilation. A key element is patient individualization. It is imperative that the relevant technical, legal and ethical requirements (medical device regulations, data protection, and informed consent) are met. Finally, expert professionals from our society must contribute to and become involved in spearheading this technological change. (AU)

Como consecuencia de la rápida introducción de las nuevas tecnologías de información y comunicación (TIC) en la práctica médica, la Sociedad Española de Neumología y Cirugía Torácica ha promovido la elaboración de un documento de posicionamiento aplicado a los trastornos respiratorios del sueño, especialmente en relación con el tratamiento con presión positiva. Cabe mencionar que la literatura científica es en parte controvertida debido a que no existen suficientes estudios multicéntricos aleatorizados, con elevado número de pacientes y seguimiento a largo plazo. Además, los equipos y sistemas telemáticos en el mercado son diferentes. Como consecuencia, las recomendaciones se basan sobre todo en un consenso de profesionales expertos. Otros aspectos muy importantes son la clara ausencia de normativa o las funciones propias de las casas comerciales, que en este trabajo se abordan ampliamente. Las recomendaciones más importantes incluidas en el documento de posicionamiento son que la telemedicina se destina, básicamente, a sujetos con problemas de desplazamiento o con domicilio lejano, a aquellos que no cumplen de forma adecuada el tratamiento con CPAP y a la mayoría de los casos con ventilación mecánica no invasiva. Un elemento clave es la individualización de los pacientes. Es imperativo que se cumplan los requisitos técnicos, legales y deontológicos pertinentes (normativa de los productos sanitarios, protección de datos y consentimiento informado). Por último, los profesionales expertos de nuestra sociedad han de contribuir e implicarse en el liderazgo de este cambio tecnológico. (AU)

Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery positioning on the use of telemedine in sleep-disordered breathing and mechanical ventilation. / Posicionamiento de la Sociedad Española de Neumología y Cirugía Torácica en el uso de la telemedicina en los trastornos respiratorios del sueño y ventilación mecánica.

The rapid introduction of new information and communication technologies into medical practice has prompted Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic SurgeryR to publish a position paper on sleep-disordered breathing, especially in relation to positive pressure treatment. It should be pointed out that the scientific literature is to some extent controversial due to a paucity of large randomized multicenter studies with long-term follow-up. Moreover, the telematics devices and systems on the market vary widely. As a result, the recommendations are based primarily on a consensus of expert professionals. Another very important aspect addressed extensively in this document is the obvious lack of regulations on legal matters and the operations of commercial companies. The most important recommendations included in this position paper are that telemedicine is primarily advocated in subjects with travel problems or who live far from the hospital, in patients with poor CPAP compliance, and in most cases treated with non-invasive mechanical ventilation. A key element is patient individualization. It is imperative that the relevant technical, legal and ethical requirements (medical device regulations, data protection, and informed consent) are met. Finally, expert professionals from our society must contribute to and become involved in spearheading this technological change.