Do patients undergo supplementary testing to see if they are fit for driving a car?
Normally, patients with LVAD are held to same standards as other cardiac surgery patients for return to driving. Are they free of ICD shocks? Are they free from narcotic use? Do they have reasonable sternal healing?
Patient with Lvad are at increased risk of sudden events related directly to the device related long term complications. These risks are in addition to the standard risks of cardiac patients who have had AICD or surgery.
These sudden complications can be acute stoppage of the device resulting in heart failure, stroke or lack of battery power. The risks are real and can outweigh the benefits, however it is difficult to say all Lvad patients should not drive.
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