[Car driving after cardiac surgery: clinical aspects, regulations, and legal implications]

Car driving is one of the most perceived problems by patients after cardiac surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of cardiac surgery and median sternotomy on driving performance after a cardiac rehabilitation program.

Seventy-four consecutive patients, usual car drivers, admitted to our Cardiac Rehabilitation Center after cardiac surgery, were evaluated 60 days from discharge using a five-item questionnaire. Questions were related to resume of car driving, problems related to car driving, and seatbelt wearing.

The analysis of the answers indicated that 36% of patients (62% females, 26% males; p = 0.01) stopped car driving after cardiac surgery, owing to the lack of security or fear of either the patients or their relatives. Sixty-four patients continued to drive, however 39% of them reported problems related to driving (irritation, poor concentration, fear, parking maneuvers). Because of persistent post-surgical chest pain, 15% of patients avoided wearing seatbelts, and 7% asked for exclusion following unconventional procedures.

After cardiac surgery, 1 out of 3 patients stops car driving, particularly among female gender; 1 out of 7 patients is seatbelt no wearers and about half of them claim for exemption following procedures not codified. Thus, common rules and recommendations from Scientific Societies are highly warranted.