P.137 Implementation of Canadian driving guidelines following cranial procedures: a systematic review and survey of Canadian neurosurgeons

Abstract

Background: Following craniotomy, there is widespread agreement that post-operative neurological impairments require specialized evaluation to evaluate fitness to drive. However, for patients who had a craniotomy and do not have neurological deficits or known seizures, there is less consensus as to when return to driving is safe. In this study, we aim to review existing guidelines regarding driving post-craniotomy and assess the current practices for post-craniotomy recommendations in Canada. Methods: Our study has three components: 1) systematic review of existing guidelines for return to driving after cranial procedure; 2) review of primary evidence (cohort studies) regarding seizure risk following a craniotomy, depending of the underlying pathology; 3) online questionnaire distributed to Canadian neurosurgeons by the Canadian Neurosurgery Collaborative (CNRC) network. Results: Our systematic review unveiled various sets of guidelines for driving after a craniotomy. For instance, UK Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency writes into law specific guidelines for return to driving varying based on underlying pathology. Their results were drawn from large cohort studies measuring the occurrence of post-operative seizures after craniotomy for a variety of conditions. The questionnaire is currently being distributed to Canadian neurosurgeons. Conclusions: Our study lays the first steps towards the development of Canadian guidelines for return to driving post-craniotomy.