[A comparison of sudden near maximal exercise test (dash method) and Bruce protocol for pediatric patients]

We examined 24 pediatric patients to evaluate the usefulness of sudden near maximal exercise test (dash method), where the subjects began to run at Bruce protocol of the last stage. 1) No considerable differences between two protocols were found in maximal oxygen consumption (V O2max), maximal heart rate (HRmax), maximal systolic blood pressure, and findings of electrocardiography. 2) The sudden maximal exercise test could be completed during a shorter period compared to Bruce protocol. 3) The sudden maximal exercise protocol reached 84% of HRmax and 47% of V O2max at one minute after the onset of the protocol, and produced 96% of HRmax and 89% of V O2max at two minutes after the onset. We considered that sudden maximal exercise protocol was useful to obtain a response similar to Bruce protocol at maximal exercise within a short period. We have to pay attention to the safety of the patients because their cardiopulmonary response to sudden maximal exercise protocol is dramatic.