Key result
Cardiopulmonary exercise testing is discussed as a method to determine peri-operative aerobic capacity, as stair climbing alone cannot determine the necessary aerobic metabolic capacity.
Stair climbing is a useful prognostic indicator but insufficient for determining aerobic metabolic capacity, suggesting a role for cardiopulmonary exercise testing in pre-operative assessment.
Stair climbing remains insufficient to assess aerobic capacity; leaves open whether cardiopulmonary exercise testing refines pre-operative risk stratification.
Functional capacity is an integral component of the pre-operative evaluation of the cardiac patient for non-cardiac surgery. Stair climbing capacity has peri-operative prognostic importance. It may predict survival after lung resection and complications after major non-cardiac surgery. However, stair climbing cannot determine the aerobic metabolic capacity necessary to survive the peri-operative stress response. The potential benefits and current limitations of cardiopulmonary exercise testing to determine peri-operative aerobic capacity are discussed. Principles for the selection of an appropriate screening test of aerobic function are put forward.
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Bruce Biccard (2005) conducted a review in Cardiac patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing vs. Stair climbing was evaluated. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing is discussed as a method to determine peri-operative aerobic capacity, as stair climbing alone cannot determine the necessary aerobic metabolic capacity.
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