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Exercise Physiology or Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test (CPX)

A Pulmonary Specialist will be present during the exercise portion of all CPX tests. It must be scheduled in conjunction with the PFT lab to coordinate physician and lab schedules. The test should be ordered only for individuals who are ambulatory and capable of at least mild forms of exercise, i.e., riding a bicycle. This is an outpatient study that should be completed when the patient is well.

The test is used to:

• Evaluate dyspnea
• Evaluate cardiopulmonary disability
• Evaluate ventilatory response to exercise
• Determine the need for supplement oxygen
• Determine the relative dysfunction of the respiratory versus the cardiovascular system to exercise tolerance.
• Establish oxygen consumption during exercise
• Measure carbon dioxide production during exercise
• Establish the anaerobic threshold.

The CPX extends beyond the standard treadmill or stress test by providing more data to the physician. The test results obtained can aid the physician in determining cardiac versus ventilatory impairments. Need for further testing may result from this test. For example,

• If breathing was the limiting factor to exercise tolerance, a complete pulmonary function test may be in order.
• If the results reveal a cardiac dysrhythmia, perhaps a Thallium Stress test may prove beneficial.
• The patient who desaturates during exercise may be suffering from low hemoglobin or a VQ mismatch.