Cardiopulmonary exercise testing in congenital heart disease: equipment and test protocols

Abstract

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in paediatric cardiology differs in many aspects from the tests as performed in adult cardiology. Children's cardiovascular responses during exercise testing present different characteristics, particularly oxygen uptake, heart rate and blood pressure response, which are essential in interpreting haemodynamic data. Diseases that are associated with myocardial ischaemia are very rare in children. The main indications for CPET in children are evaluation of exercise capacity and the identification of exercise-induced arrhythmias. In this article we will review exercise equipment and test protocols for CPET in children with congenital heart disease. (Neth Heart J 2009;17:339-44.).

Figures

Figure 1

Bland-Altman plot of systolic(left) and diastolic (right) blood pressure (in mmHg) during exercise as measured with the Suntech Tango® system compared with auscultatory blood pressure measurement. (Takken et al., unpublished observations).

Figure 1

Bland-Altman plot of systolic(left) and diastolic (right) blood pressure (in mmHg) during exercise as measured with the Suntech Tango® system compared with auscultatory blood pressure measurement. (Takken et al., unpublished observations).