WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- U.S. patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators for prevention don't need driving restrictions as those after a heart rhythm disturbance.
The American Heart Association and the Heart Rhythm Society, in an addendum to "Personal and Public Safety Issues Related to Arrhythmias that May Affect Consciousness," addresses driving restrictions in patients who receive an ICD for primary prevention -- meaning they have never had a life-threatening heart rhythm disturbance.
The original advisory referred to prophylactic ICDs, which at the time were more commonly used for secondary prevention, meaning the recipient has survived at least one life-threatening arrhythmia.
"Because the majority of defibrillators being implanted now are for primary rather than secondary prevention, it seemed prudent to review the recommendations for driving," said Dr. Andrew E. Epstein of the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
The advisory is published online in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association and on the Heart Rhythm Society's Web site.
