Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test (CPET)Adult
Useful Management Information
A CPET is the assessment of cardio-pulmonary function during incremental exercise and combines measurements of the electrocardiogram, blood pressure and power output withanalysis of exhaled gases.
The most common indications for the CPET include:
- Determination of exercise capacity.
- Determination of the cause of a cardiopulmonary limitation to exercise.
- Identification of abnormal cardiopulmonary responses to exercise.
- Evaluation of results of therapeutic intervention.
- Evaluating unexplained dyspnea when other tests have been non-diagnostic.
Absolute contraindications:
- Myocardial infarction within 1/12.
- Changes in the resting ECG that suggest acute or recent myocardial event.
- Unstable angina.
- Uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmias.
- Severe aortic stenosis and known or suspected dissecting aortic aneurysm.
- Active or suspected acute pericarditis or myocarditis.
- Acute congestive heart failure.
- Acute febrile illness.
- Acute asthma.
- Recent systemic or pulmonary embolus.
- Significant emotional distress (psychosis).
Relative contraindications:
- Systemic hypertension (resting systolic >200 mmHg, diastolic >120 mmHg).
- Resting tachycardia (>120 beats per minute).
- Frequent ventricular or atrial ectopy.
- Moderate aortic stenosis.
- Other moderate or severe valvular heart disease.
- Known electrolyte abnormalities (e.g., hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia).
- Uncontrolled diabetes.
- Orthopedic limitations to exercise.
- Neuromuscular, musculoskeletal or rheumatoid diseases that are exacerbated by exercise.
- Advanced or complicated pregnancy.
- Cardiomyopathy.
Minimum Referral Criteria
| Category Category 1 ((appointment within 30 calendar days)) |
|
|---|---|
| Category Category 2 ((appointment within 90 calendar days)) |
|
| Category Category 3 ((appointment within 365 calendar days)) |
|
Essential Referral Information
- This test requires respiratory physician approval and a signed ‘Cardiopulmonary Exercise Stress Test’ consent form.
- Reason for referral - what is the clinical question to be answered by performing the test?
- Infectious status.
If a specific test result is unable to be obtained due to access, financial, religious, cultural or consent reasons a Clinical Override may be requested. This reason must be clearly articulated in the body of the referral.
Additional Referral Information
- No additional referral information
Send Referrals To
Smart Referrals
Not Available
Secure Web Transfer
Not Available
Internal Referrals
Lung Function Lab (E-Blueslips)
Fax
Post
Lung Function Lab
Gold Coast University Hospital
1 Hospital Boulevard
Southport QLD 4215
Enquiries
Service Availability
Facilities
If you would like to send a named referral, please address it to the specialist listed above, who will allocate a suitably qualified specialist to see the patient. Alternatively, you can view a full list of our specialists.