Abstract
Objectives/backgroundTo assess brake reaction time (BRT; key factor in driving ability) in patients receiving transfemoral coronary angiography (CAG). We assumed that patients would have a significantly impaired BRT after the procedure.MethodsA prospective, observational study design was applied. Consecutive patients undergoing right-sided transfemoral CAG as part of the clinical routine were included. An experimental driving simulator was used to determine BRT after receiving a visual stimulus. The subjects applied the brake with their right foot as quickly as possible when a red-light signal appeared. The time interval between stimulus and brake application was taken as BRT. In addition to the total BRT, also its components were determined: neurologic reaction time, foot transfer time and brake travel time. BRT was determined before and 1 day after CAG (pre-post comparison).Results71 patients were included in the analysis (58 male, age 61 ± 9 years). Total BRT was 594 ± 188 and 591 ± 198 ms before and after the CAG procedure, respectively (p = 0.270). Similarly, also the BRT components ‘foot transfer time’ and ‘brake travel time’ did not show significant differences between the two test occasions. However, neurologic reaction time decreased from 269 ± 67 to 255 ± 64 ms (p = 0.036).ConclusionsWe found no impairment of BRT on the first day after puncture of the right-sided femoral artery in patients undergoing CAG. Therefore, with regard to BRT, it is regarded safe to resume driving from day 1 after CAG. Other factors of driving safety beyond BRT must also be considered.
Highlights
In the context of standard procedures of the lower limbs, physicians are often confronted with questions regarding driving ability after invasive procedures
Among the various factors contributing to driving ability, previous studies reported “brake reaction time” (BRT) to be a key parameter [1,2,3]
We assumed that BRT might be significantly increased after the procedure in our patients
Summary
In the context of standard procedures of the lower limbs, physicians are often confronted with questions regarding driving ability after invasive procedures. Such questions are of obvious importance for patient safety as well as for the. Clinical Research in Cardiology (2018) 107:881–886 safety of other traffic participants. Driving ability is crucial for an individual’s participation in contemporary social life and an important task in activities of daily living. When weighing the interests of safety vs independence, it would be beneficial to have specific scientific knowledge about postoperative driving impairments following invasive medical procedures. BRT was defined as the time interval between a (visual) stimulus (e.g. red traffic lights) and the application of sufficient pressure to the brake pedal
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