Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET)

Aims of CPET:

Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) assesses how well your heart, lungs and muscles tolerate exercise. It provides an objective assessment of exercise capacity preoperatively and identifies the causes of exercise limitation.

Purposes of CPET:

The main purpose of CPET is understanding functional capacity and therefore allowing multidisciplinary collaborative decision making about the most appropriate surgical and non-surgical management. CPET testing is used for:

• Perioperative evaluation
• Evaluating undiagnosed exercise tolerance
• Evaluating exercise tolerance for functional work capacity
• Rehabilitation program assessment

What CPET involves:

CPET testing involves exercising on a bike against increasing resistance for 15-20 minutes. Gas exchange analysis measures anaerobic threshold (point where lactic acid starts to accumulate in the muscles), peak oxygen consumption and heart rhythm. During the test ECG dots will be attached to your chest and a blood pressure cuff placed on your arm.

What you need to know:

Comfortable casual clothing/active wear including runners should be worn. Please bring a drink bottle and towel. Bathroom and shower facilities are available after the test if you require.

How to book:

A referral from your GP, surgeon or other specialist is required.

Click here to download the form:   Fax to: 03) 9781 4133 or email: admin@baysideperioperative.com.au