Is It Ever Safe to Drive Home After Surgery?
If you have an upcoming surgery, it’s important to plan your transportation to and from the hospital ahead of time. If you’ve wondered whether it’s safe to drive yourself home after a medical procedure or if you should always ask a friend, you’re in the right place.
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Multiple factors to consider
As you might have guessed, there are a variety of factors that determine how soon you can safely take the driver’s seat after surgery. According to Jennifer Whitlock, RN, MSN, FN, with Very Well Health, some of these factors include your age and general health, the type of anesthesia used, and the type of medical procedure performed.
Anesthesia and soreness
Anesthesia can slow not just your reflexes but your thought processes, according to Whitlock. This, in turn, can significantly impede your ability to make smart decisions when driving.
Besides the side effects of anesthesia, you should also keep in mind that driving might put undue stress on your body post-surgery. Depending on what type of medical procedure you’re having, driving could cause stitches to rupture or put excessive pressure on the body part where the surgery was performed.
A good rule of thumb — regardless of whether your surgery is considered in-patient or out-patient — is that if you have some type of sedation or anesthesia during a procedure, it’s best to have a family member, friend, or rideshare driver take you home. If you fail to do this and end up getting into a collision when driving yourself home within 24 hours of receiving anesthesia, law enforcement can charge you with a DUI.
Photo: Sharon McCutcheon via Pixabay
Ask a doctor
When in doubt, it’s best to ask the doctor who will be doing the procedure, recommends Whitlock. They will be the most familiar with your unique health issues and be aware of any side effects of the procedure and anesthesia that might interfere with your alertness behind the wheel.
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Whitney Russell resides in Dayton, though her spirit can be found beach-bumming in Puerto Rico (the land of her half-Puerto Rican heritage). When not crafting car-related content, she can be found chasing after the most amazing toddler in the world, watching her “beaver” of a husband build amazing woodworking projects, hanging out with two crazy dogs, and visiting family and friends. She also enjoys traveling, crafting, and binge-watching period dramas when time allows. See more articles by Whitney.