Time to resumption of driving after implantation of an automatic defibrillator (from the Dual chamber and VVI Implantable Defibrillator [DAVID] trial).
The time to resumption of driving after insertion of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) was evaluated in the Dual Chamber And VVI Implantable Defibrillator trial. Most patients were advised not to drive for 3 to 6 months after the ICD was implanted. Patients were surveyed at 3-, 6-, or 9-month intervals to characterize their driving habits, with 101 of 137 (73.7%), 98 of 146 (67.1%), and 79 of 135 (58.5%) responding. Of respondents, 82% recalled being told not to drive for a specified time after ICD implantation. These patients generally obeyed recommendations (association between recommended time and time of resumption, p <0.001) from medical personnel.
Baessler
Chris
C
Medical College of Pennsylvania, Hahnemann University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Murphy
Sheryl
S
Gebhardt
Laura
L
Tso
Trevor
T
Ellenbogen
Kenneth
K
Leman
Robert
R
D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000601:surgery*; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D013997:Time Factors