Service Details

Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) is an way to diagnose exercise intolerance and to assess your ability to withstand major surgery.

A CPET can be done within a week from a referral from your surgeon, GP or physician.

Fit for surgery

Operations increase the body’s demand for oxygen in the same way as exercising does. This increased demand for oxygen lasts for several days after your operation.

If we know your fitness level and how your heart and lungs are likely to respond to surgery, we can tailor your anaesthetic to the demands of your surgery. That’s where a CPET can make all the difference.

Diseases affecting the heart, lungs, circulation, or blood will cause an abnormal response to exercise. Knowing this beforehand helps us prepare in advance to improve your chance of a successful recovery.

Fit for life

CPET allows us to understand what is the most likely reason for someone's reduced ability to exercise, whether it's simply being unfit or overweight, or if there is a more serious problem needing further investigation such as breathing disorders or heart disease.

It can even tell us if breathlessness is due to issues with your circulation, blood (such as anaemia) or with the function of your muscles themselves.

How CPET works

CPET brings together the functions of the respiratory (breathing), cardiac (heart) and circulatory (blood) systems in one, non-invasive test. 

Your appointment will last about an hour, but the actual period of exercise is usually between eight and 12 minutes. You will simply need to cycle on an exercise bike while breathing through a face mask.

Many patients worry about their fitness level before they take the test but CPET works for all; young or old, from the unfit to highly trained athletes.

The team regularly see patients in their 60s, 70s and 80s (even 90s) who may already have a heart or lung condition.

The amount of exercise is relatively modest - all we require is that you give your best effort.

During the test you will be monitored by the medical team who will collect as much information about you as possible. This will help us plan for your operation and successful recovery.

What information will be analysed during the CPET?

• Continuous 12 lead exercise ECG
• Blood pressure
• Continuous oxygen saturation
• Breath by breath lung function
• Breath by breath oxygen uptake and CO2 production

Results

We aim to provide an overview of a test on the day. Your referring consultant will get a detailed report including a personalised risk assessment based on your current level of fitness. This is usually within 48 hours.

A copy of the report is usually sent to your GP, who has the opportunity to provide a treatment plan based on these results.