This paper reviews medical files of nineteen kidney dialysis patients, who in the course of 1987 underwent medical examination prior to applying for a driving licence or prior to having their licence extended. The collected data were studied with regard to age, sex, occupation, driving experience, illness and health condition in general, the onset of the kidney disease, the beginning, type and duration of dialysis, the findings of a nephrologist with regard to the present condition of the disease, laboratory findings, history of accident involvement according to traffic police records, the patients' attitude towards the disease itself and driving and finally, the assessment of driving aptitude. It also states in which cases it is recommended to prohibit driving, either temporarily or permanently. It points to the fact that centres for dialysis should cooperate more closely with medical centres which are in charge of medical examination of drivers. The conducted survey and the past experiences provide substantial grounds for the conclusion that persons undergoing repeated intermittent haemodialysis are apt for safe driving of motor vehicles.
Abstract