The role of gas analysis in stress testing

By providing measurements of O2 uptake and CO2 production during exercise, cardiopulmonary exercise testing can (1) distinguish between cardiac and pulmonary limitations in patients with dyspnea; (2) measure disability and provide an accurate exercise prescription; (3) provide physiologically relevant endpoints for assessing interventions; (4) define low-risk patients after uncomplicated myocardial infarction who may be safely assigned to medical therapy; and (5) stratify patient with left ventricular dysfunction by prognosis and functional capacity, identifying those who may benefit most from cardiac transplantation.