Exercise testing in the assessment of the cardiac patient

Abstract

Exercise testing has an indispensable role in the assessment and management of patients with congenital heart disease. It provides important quantitative information about the health of the cardiovascular system and may uncover problems or disease processes that are not apparent at rest. The indications for exercise testing include the evaluation of arrhythmias, chest pain, and exercise capacity. It can be used to monitor the effectiveness of therapies for arrhythmias, pulmonary hypertension, or heart failure. The common modalities used include the six-minute walk test, treadmill testing with electrocardiographic monitoring, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. In addition to assessing exercise endurance, the cardiopulmonary exercise test provides important insights into the factors limiting exercise performance in children with heart disease.