Safety of Driving After Minor Surgery With Monitored Anesthesia Care (NCT00577200) | Clinical Trial Compass
Active — Not RecruitingPhase 4
Safety of Driving After Minor Surgery With Monitored Anesthesia Care
United States625 participantsStarted 2008-01
Plain-language summary
Patients are currently advised to refrain from driving motor vehicles or using public transportation unescorted for a 24 hour period if they undergo any minor ambulatory surgical procedure with monitored anesthesia care (MAC).However, recently introduced short-acting anesthetics may facilitate rapid recovery and an early return to normal daily activities. The proposed study will compare newer short-acting anesthetic agents (propofol, benzodiazepine, opioid) utilized in MAC, to determine if a particular pharmacological agent, or a combination of agents, impair driving performance as evaluated by driving simulator assessment, at time of discharge from the ambulatory center after minor surgical procedures.Subjects will be grouped as patients with chronic pain undergoing procedures and those without chronic pain undergoing procedures. Subjects with pain issues will be randomized with either 1)Midazolam + Sufentanil + Propofol or 2)Midazolam + Sufentanil. There will be a third group of subjects who are controls not undergoing any procedures.
Who can participate
Age range
21 Years – 70 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Ambulatory surgical patient possessing a valid driving license and presenting for a minor procedure that does not physically impact ability to drive (such as hand, arm, and lower extremity surgery).
* Another group of subjects who are not scheduled for a procedure will be given a driving simulator exercise and they will be control group.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Any surgical case that lasted more than one hour and required general anesthesia will be excluded.
* Patients with a history of chronic benzodiazepine or alcohol abuse, alcohol or other substance dependence or recent use of medications with sleep altering qualities, and driving simulator sickness.
* Patients who cannot follow a simple driving task and cannot sit on a chair for the driving test due to medical conditions will also be excluded.
* History of seizures
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1This trial is measuring actual driving performance — like how much someone weaves in their lane — after minor surgery with monitored anesthesia care; based on what the study has found so far, how long after my specific procedure and type of anesthesia would you consider it safe for me to drive?
2Since this is a Phase 4 trial, meaning the anesthesia being studied is already approved and in use, does that change how you think about the risk level compared to a trial testing something brand new?
3The study is no longer actively enrolling patients — does that mean results are available or expected soon, and would those findings change any advice you'd give me about driving after my procedure?
4If I rely on driving for daily activities or work, how should I realistically plan around the restriction period after my surgery, and what does current evidence suggest about how impaired driving actually is during that window?
5Are there specific types of minor procedures or anesthesia doses where the driving risk is higher, and does what I'm having fall into a category where extra caution would be warranted?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Weaving, measured as the standard deviation of lateral position.