DRIVING SAFETY AMONG PATIENTS WITH AUTOMATIC IMPLANTABLE CARDIOVERTER-DEFIBRILLATORS

Objective.-To determine the driving behavior of patients following the placement of automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillators (AICDs ). Subjects and Design.-Forty patients with AICDs (33 men, seven women ; mean age, 62.7 years) responded to a questionnaire designed to ascer tain driving behavior after hospital discharge. Results.-Despite medic al advice never to drive again, 28 patients (70%) resumed driving, wit h the majority doing so by 8 months after AICD implantation. Of these, 11 (40%) identified themselves as the primary driver in their househo ld. Fourteen (50%) drove daily. Two (7%) were driving and continued to drive during discharge of their AICDs. Twenty-five (91%) reported tha t they felt comfortable and safe while driving. Conclusion.-A majority of patients with AICDs continue to drive after a proscription of this activity by health care workers.