Loading...
Most patients resume driving soon after receiving an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), often despite recommendations to the contrary. However, it is unclear whether these individuals pose a significant risk of causing accidents as a result of experiencing arrhythmias and subsequent ICD shocks, or even loss of consciousness, while driving.
The Triggers of Ventricular Arrhythmias (TOVA) trial prospectively followed 1188 patients with ICDs placed for standard indications, including both primary and secondary prophylaxis. More than 80% of participants reported driving at least once a week, with a median driving time of 3.8 hours per week. In a median follow-up of 562 days, 193 ICD shocks associated with an episode of ventricular tach…