A Practical Guide to the Interpretation of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Tests

A Practical Guide to the Interpretation of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Tests is a short, but comprehensive, guide for those who are involved in the supervision of exercise tests and interpretation of cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) data. It is a clear and concise guide which will also be of interest to those who request CPETs and who wish to understand more about how to use the results. The first four chapters cover the reasons why a CPET may be requested, pre-test assessment, supervision of the test to ensure that it is safe, and the practicalities of the test itself. Subsequent chapters look in detail at the key CPET measurements of heart rate, ventilation, oxygen uptake, and carbon dioxide output. There are chapters on the parameters that can be derived from these basic measurements: ventilatory equivalents, oxygen pulse, and the respiratory exchange ratio. Further chapters show how the anaerobic threshold and respiratory compensation point are obtained, and how they can be used to interpret the physiological response to exercise. The role of monitoring oxygen saturation and flow–volume loops during the test is described. The third section of the book has chapters on presentation of results, interpretative strategies, and summaries of classical CPET patterns seen in different diseases. The final chapters consider the role of preoperative CPET testing and how to prescribe exercise. All chapters have pointers to further resources.